■. : : " ' /" • ".''■ -■ ' ■ " -■',- 

SHORT STUDIES 

OF THE 

HEROES OF THE EARLY CHURCH 

EMMA A. ROBINSON 




Class 
Book 



Copyright N° 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



#<sT2> <*<i^ 



SHORT STUDIES 



OF THE 



Heroes of the Early Church 



fly 
EMMA A. ROBINSON 




CINCINNATI: JENNINGS AND GRAHAM 
NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Keceivt* 

JUL 13 1308 
Jia^x or i<jo% 

CLASS* A AXC. i^ 

copy a. 



3 S if 35 

•Tft 



copyright, 1908, by 
Jennings and graham 



v^ 



Inscribed to 

. A Hero-loving Boy, 

MY NEPHEW RHEA 



CONTENTS 

Study Page 

Introduction, - ' _...,_--- 7 

I. IN JERUSALEM. 

I. The Upper Room, 13 

II. The First Great Revival, - - - - 21 

III. The Church of the Apostles, 27 

, IV. Peter the Leader, 34 

V. The First Deacons, 43 

VI. Other Leaders, - 51 

VII. Some Jerusalem Christians, .... 56 

II. IN JUDEA— SAMARIA. 

VIII. The Gospel Extended by Philip, - - - 65 

IX. The Boyhood of Saul, 71 

X. The Conversion of Saul, ----- 78 

III. UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF 
THE EARTH. 

XL A Visitation of the Churches, - - - 87 

XII. The Church in Antioch, 93 

XIII. Paul's First Missionary Journey, - - 101 

XIV. Paul's Second Missionary Journey — 

Antioch to Athens, - - '- - 109 

' s 



Contents 

Study Page 

XV. Paul's Second Missionary Journey — 

Athens to Syria, - - . — - - 119 

XVI. Paul's Third Missionary Journey — 

Antioch to Ephesus, - - - - 125 

XVII. Paul's Third Missionary Journey — 

Ephesus to Philippi, - - - - 131 

XVIII. Paul's Third Missionary Journey — 

Philippi to Jerusalem, - - - 137 

XIX. Paul's Imprisonment, - - - - - 144 

XX. A Notable Voyage, - - - - - 151 

XXI. The Shipwreck, - - - - \ - - 158 

XXII. Rome, - 164 

XXIII. Letters from Rome, - 169 

XXIV. Paul's Last Years, 174 

XXV. The Apostle John in the Early Church, - 181 



INTRODUCTION 

Short Studies of the Heroes of the Early 
Church is the name selected for the third book 
in the series of Bible Study books for the In- 
termediate Section of the Junior League. 

If the heroic element lent a charm to the 
study of Old Testament characters, it must 
give an added interest to the study of these 
makers of the early Church, whose every-day 
life was so full of heroism for the cross of 
Christ, and who, with one exception, gave his 
life for the Master. 

It would have been interesting to carry 
out the plan of the Character Studies, as in the 
first book of the series; but, in order to make 
the setting clear, it has been necessary to con- 
fine this book to sketches rather than stories, 
that in these studies of the heroes we might 
also give the 'history of the Apostolic Church. 

Some of the surroundings have been 
gathered from books portraying the peoples 
and customs of the times, and have been woven 
into the sketches because of the light they throw 
on the subject matter of the Bible narrative. 

In regard to the dates suggested, no intima- 



Introduction 

tion is given that there is a divergence of opin- 
ion, as the best authorities are pretty generally 
unanimous in regard to the larger proportion of 
them. Where this is not so, the dates have 
been omitted. 

In connection with this study the boys and 
girls will be interested in the reading of the 
Book of Acts as a whole. Ask them to read 
it all in one week, just as they would read any 
other history. This is a much more interest- 
ing plan than the reading in small sections. 

The memory work for the third year is 
based on this book, and we suggest that, so 
far as possible, the Memory Verses and Prayers 
be memorized, or that the Intermediates be 
asked to prepare their own Memory Books, 
writing in them each week a Memory Verse 
and a prayer; these to be taken from any of 
the study books or directly from the Bible. 
Encourage originality in the preparation of 
these books. 

The suggestions to leaders for the use of 
this book in the class do not differ very ma- 
terially from those given in the previous book, 
and therefore will not be repeated. A few 
additional suggestions are given. 

i. Care should be taken that the text-book 
does not supplant the use of the Bible among 
the boys and girls. Each should own his Bible, 

8 



Introduction 

and use it constantly, both in class and for home 
study, where this is done. 

2. In the preparation of the Hero Story 
Books, encourage the Juniors to read carefully 
the Bible narrative and include in their stories 
many of the interesting details, which, for want 
of space, were omitted from the text-book. 

. 3. In the map-work much interest may be 
created by making a study of the places visited 
by the different apostles, as many of them were 
places of importance in the world of that day 
and in the history of all times. In these places 
we find some of the Seven Wonders of the 
World, the homes of some of the great leaders 
and teachers, and many other things that boys 
and girls enjoy knowing. 

4. At the age of the Intermediates, the ar- 
tistic and esthetic element predominates. The 
book-work, if of interest to them, must be 
beautiful and attractive. Let the covers for 
the books be prepared in the beginning, and the 
stories added from week to week. 

The covers should be made a work of art. 
If all members of the class have not the ability 
to make attractive covers, with water-color 
paper and paints, the stencil work now so much 
used in the public schools will make it possible 
for each to have a pretty book. 

If the Junior Superintendent is not informed 



Introduction 

in regard to the making and use of stencils, 
one of the neighboring public-school teachers 
will gladly give the needed information. 

A wide margin may be left on the story 
pages and each story illustrated with cuttings 
from magazines or with original- drawings. 
Where a loose leaf note-book cover is used, it 
may be made attractive by the mounting of 
a picture of appropriate size on the front cover. 

5. The memory verses and prayers are 
quoted from the American Revised Bible, in 
order that the Juniors may grow to love this 
text even as the present generation love and 
revere the King James version. 

6. For reference the following books are 
recommended, in addition to a Teachers' Bible 
and Bible Dictionary (some of these will be 
found in the pastor's library) : 

"The Life and Epistles of Paul." Cony- 
beare and Howson. 

"The Life of Paul." Farrar. 

"Paul of Tarsus." Bird. 

Bibles Atlas. Rand and McNally. 



10 



PARTI 
THE CHURCH OF JERUSALEM 



SHORT STUDIES 



OF THE 



Heroes of the Early Church 



Chapter I. 
THE UPPER ROOM! 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"But ye shall receive power when the Holy 
Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be My 
witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, 
and Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of 
the earth." Acts i : 8. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

1. Peter's Commission. John 21: 15-19. 

2. The Great Commission. Matt. 28: 
16-20. 

3. Command to tarry at Jerusalem. Acts 
1:4. 

4. The Promise of Power. Acts 1:8; 
Luke 24: 49. 

13 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

5. The Ascension. Luke 24: 50, 51; Acts 
1:9-11. 

6. Matthias chosen. Acts 1: 15-26. 

7. The Holy Spirit given. Acts 2: 1-13. 

STORY. 

The disciples and followers of Jesus were 
alone. After that morning by the sea when 
the Master had given to Peter the thrice-re- 
peated commission, "Feed My sheep," He had 
bidden them go to Jerusalem. From there, 
one morning, He had led them out to the Mount 
of Olives near Bethany, perhaps in sight of 
the house were He had been so many times 
the guest of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. 

Here He paused to give to them some 
final instructions. As He said to them, "Ye 
shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is 
come upon you: and ye shall be My witnesses, 
both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, 
and unto the uttermost parts of the earth," He 
raised His hands as if to bless them, and even 
as He spoke, while every eye was fastened upon 
Him, He rose slowly -from the earth, and as 
they looked, a cloud received Him out of their 
sight. 

Spellbound, the disciples stood motionless, 
their eyes fixed on the place where but a mo- 
ment before they had seen Jesus. How long 



The Upper Room 

they might have stood thus can not be told; 
for suddenly two men in white apparel stood 
in their midst, and said to them: "Why stand 
ye looking into heaven? this Jesus who was 
received up from you into heaven, shall so come 
in like maner as ye beheld Him going into 
heaven." Then the disciples returned to Jeru- 
salem, remembering that Jesus had told them 
to remain there until the Holy Spirit had come 
upon them-. 

That night they assembled in a large room 
in the home of one of the disciples; probably 
'in the home of Mary, the mother of John 
Mark. It may have been that this was the 
same room where they had eaten the last sup- 
per with Jesus, and here, as they finished their 
meal, they called to mind the commandment of 
Jesus, and in remembrance of Him they par- 
took of the Lord's Supper. 

Jesus had said, "Tarry in Jerusalem," but 
the disciples were poor men, and to tarry in 
Jerusalem meant that they must at once find 
work. In their own country of Galilee many 
of them had been fishermen, and it was not 
easy to adapt themselves to city ways ; but work 
they must have. Just what they found to do 
is not known ; but every evening, when the work 
of the day was over, found them together in the 
"upper room," 

IS 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

One of their first acts was to elect some cne 
to fill the place of Judas. Two men, Barsabas 
and Matthias, were selected. Lots were then 
cast for the two, and Matthias was chosen. 

The great feast of the Jews, the Day of 
Pentecost, was at hand, and strangers from 
all over the country arrived hourly, until Jeru- 
salem was literally full of people of every na- 
tion. When the Day of Pentecost was fully 
come, early in the morning the disciples with 
one accord hastened to the upper room; not 
alone the Twelve, but others to the number of 
one hundred and twenty, who had gathered 
daily to await the fulfillment of God's promise. 

This morning, as they sat at the feet of 
those who were instructing them, wondering, 
possibly, if this might not be the day for which 
Jesus had bidden them wait, suddenly there 
came a sound as of a rushing mighty wind from 
heaven, and it filled all the house where they 
were sitting. Startled by the unexpected sound, 
each looked to the others for an explanation, 
but only to meet a new wonder; for as he 
looked, each saw, resting upon the other, a 
cloven tongue like as of fire. 

With an intuition sent from God, they knew 
that this was the fulfillment of the promise 
of Christ; that the Holy Spirit, who was to 

16 



The Upper Room 

give them power to work for Him, had come. 
The news of some strange happening spread 
rapidly; people gathered about the house; they 
even crowded into the upper room to learn the 
cause of the unwonted sound that many had 
heard. The disciples could not keep quiet; 
they must talk and tell of this wonderful power 
which each felt within himself, and which 
made him want every one else to have the same 
power. 

But, wonder of wonders, these men were 
all Jews; and yet, as they spoke, every man 
in that city, from whatever country he had 
come, heard them speak in his own language. 
Some looked with awe and reverence upon this 
wonder; others began to mock them, and say 
that they were drunken. 

Some one must explain this great miracle; 
but they had not known in what way the Holy 
Spirit would come, and no provision had been 
made for anything like this. Instinctively they 
seem to have turned to Peter, and he who had 
denied Christ, was given the honor of defend- 
ing Him, and His gift of power, and by this 
act, virtually became the leader of this little 
band that was the beginning of the great Chris- 
tian Church. 



17 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan i. The world of the Early Church. 

Plan i gives simply the outline of the 
countries to which the activities of these Heroes 
of the early Church were in the main confined. 

In designating Galilee and Jerusalem the 
home of the disciples during the life of Christ, 
and the center of the activities of the apostles 
after the resurrection, note how small a por- 
tion of the country was touched by Christ Him- 
self, in proportion to that reached during the 
lifetime of the apostles. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Who wrote the Book of Acts? 

2. Why do the angels call the disciples "Ye 
men of Galilee" in Acts i : 1 1 ? 

3. To Whom does Peter refer in Acts 1 : 
15-20? 

4. Where does Jesus promise the coming 
of the Holy Spirit, and what other name does 
He give Him? 

5. How far does Jesus command the dis- 
ciples to witness for Him, and in whose power? 

HEART TALK. 

The promise of power was not alone to 
the disciples gathered in the upper room, but 

18 



The Upper Room 




19 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

to every one into whose life God sends His 
Holy Spirit. 

To-day the Holy Spirit in our hearts will 
make our lives witnesses for Him to those about 
us every day, and if we are living witnesses for 
Him at home, we will be ready to go anywhere 
He may want us to go, to witness for Him. 

PRAYER. 

"Neither' for these only do I pray, but for 
them also that shall believe on Me through 
their word." John 17: 20. 



20 



CHAPTER II. 
THE FIRST GREAT REVIVAL. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"We must obey God rather than men." 
Acts 5 : 29. 

bible picture. 

1. Peter's sermon. Acts 2: 14-36. 

2. The prophecy of Joel. Joel 2: 28-32. 

3. The quotation from David. Psa. 16: 
8-11. 

4. The result of Peter's sermon. Acts 2 : 

37-47- 

5. The miracle at the Beautiful Gate. Acts 
3: 1-10. 

6. Peter's sermon. Acts 3: 11-26. 

7. The arrest and trial of Peter and John. 
Acts. 4: 1-22. 

STORY. 

Peter stepped out from among the Twelve. 
The disciples, who had risen to their feet, and 
whose speaking in strange tongues had aroused 
the tumult, seated themselves in rows in front 
of him. 

21 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Facing them, and quieting the multitude, 
Peter said, "These are not drunken as ye sup- 
pose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day, 
but this is that which hath been spoken." 

Then, knowing full well the awful reverence 
of the Jews for the prophets, he began with 
a quotation from the prophet Joel, and proved 
to them that what they had just seen and heard 
was a fulfilment of that propnecy; then, quot- 
ing from David, he went on to prove that 
Jesus was the Messiah of the Old Testament, 
closing with these words: "Let all the house 
of Israel therefore know assuredly that God 
hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this 
Jesus whom ye crucified." 

Those who heard him could not resist the 
power of his words, and many came to Peter 
and the other disciples, saying, "What must 
we do?" The disciples had just one answer 
for them, "Repent ye, and be baptized every 
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto 
the remission of your sins." The rite of bap- 
tism was administered at once, and about three 
thousand were added to the number of be- 
lievers in Christ that day. These met regu- 
larly for instruction and worship, others were 
added to them daily, and there was great re- 
joicing among them. 

The priests and rulers did not realize how 

22 



The First Great Revival 

this little band was increasing in numbers, until 
their attention was attracted by a miracle which 
drew many to Christ. As Peter and John were 
going into the temple for worship a lame beggar 
lying at the Beautiful Gate asked alms of them. 
Peter in reply said, "Look on us." The beggar, 
expecting money, did so; but Peter said: "Sil- 
ver and gold have I none, but what I have, 
that I give thee. In the name of Jesus Christ 
of Nazareth, walk." He took him by the hand, 
and the man stood up and walked into the 
temple with them. 

Every one entering the temple had seen the 
lame man lying at the gate day after day, many 
of them knew him, and a crowd gathered about 
them at once. Again Peter turned them to 
Christ, and, in the sermon which he preached, 
proved to many that Jesus was the Messiah. 

The gathering of this multitude aroused the 
fears of the high priest and rulers, and from 
this time they strove to silence the disciples and 
undermine their influence. Peter and John were 
imprisoned, beaten, and forbidden to teach in 
the name of Christ; but their answer was, "We 
can not but speak the things we saw and heard," 
and, being released, they returned to their breth- 
ren. After prayer to God, the Holy Spirit 
again manifested His presence with them, and 
they spoke even more boldly, and so many were 

23 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

led to Christ that the Bible speaks of them 
as "the multitudes of them that believed." 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 2. Herod's Temple. 

This plan should be studied in connection 
with Plan 3 or some good relief plan of Jeru- 
salem, in order that the location may be under- 
stood. 

The Beautiful Gate and Solomon's Porch 
will be the places of special interest. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. How many quotations from the Old 
Testament^ are found in Peter's first sermon? 

2. How many were added to the Church 
after that sermon? 

3. By how many different names does Peter 
speak of Christ in the third chapter of Acts? 

4. How many followers of Christ were 
there at the time of the first imprisonment of 
Peter and John? 

5. Read the prayer of the disciples after 
their release from prison. 

HEART TALK. 

It is not necessary for any one to prove to 
us to-day that Christ is the Messiah, or that 
He is God's Son. The question for us is: "Is 

24 



The First Great Revival 



Tower o-P Anion. 10 




Sacred lncl.oGure 



Court of th_e 



I Herod's T>orch_ 




Plan 2. Herod's Temple. 



25 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Christ my Savior?" If not, we are no better 
off than those Jews who did not believe in Him. 
If He is, we should do as did the Jews of old, 
be baptized and join ourselves to the number 
of Christ's followers, the Church. 

PRAYER. 

"O Lord, Thou that dids't make the heaven 
and the earth the sea, and all that in them is, 
. . . grant unto Thy servants to speak Thy 
word with all boldness" Acts 4: 24-29. 



26 



CHAPTER III. 
THE CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My 
Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech. 4:6. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. The Lord's Supper. Acts 2: 42. 

2. All things in common. Acts 2: 44-46. 

3. The disciples still Jews. Acts 4: 1. 

4. Preaching in the temple and at home. 
Acts 3:11; Acts 5 : 42. 

5. Growing opposition. Acts 5:17, 33. 

6. The second arrest. Acts 5: 17-32. 

7 The advice of Gamaliel. Acts 5 : 33-42. 

STORY. 

The great increase in the number of the 
disciples, at first thought, would seem to necessi- 
tate the organization and building of new 
churches; but at this time there was no Chris- 
tian Church. The disciples were still Jews, at- 
tending the daily services in the temple, partici- 
27 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

pating in its sacrifices and feasts, and observing 
Jewish customs. They were simply Christian 
Jews who believed that Christ was the Messiah 
of the Old Testament, and were more like a 
brotherhood within the Jewish Church, than like 
a separate Church. 

The company had grown too large for the 
"upper room," though they still met there, and 
in other rooms that had been opened to them, 
for their evening meal together, and for the 
Lord's Supper which was eaten daily. The rest 
of their services, like those of other Jewish sects, 
were probably held on one of the porches of 
the temple, known as Solomon's Porch, and at- 
tracted little comment at first. 

After the close of the Feast of Pentecost, 
many of those who had been added to the 
Church returned to their own homes, carrying 
the new religion with them, while in Jerusalem 
the Christians grew in number and strength. 
The most of these were very poor, and this may 
have led to the custom, which lasted for only 
a short time, of putting their money into a 
common fund that all might share equally. This 
even at the first was probably not compulsory. 
It appears as though those who wished to do 
so had part in this common fund, and many 
gave only part of their property. 

28 



The Church of the Apostles 

From the beginning the followers of Christ 
were very liberal. The house of Mary was 
always open for their meetings. Barnabas, who 
was a man of some means, sold at least part of 
his land, and put the money into the common 
fund, and later the Churches outside of Jeru- 
salem sent money many times to help the dis- 
ciples. 

The Jewish Church at this time was so 
burdened with rites and observances that no one 
might hope to keep them all, save 'those who 
devoted themselves to this alone. In great 
contrast to this, these early Christians had but 
two rites — the Lord's Supper, which in those 
days was a meal eaten together, and which sym- 
bolized communion or fellowship with Christ; 
and the rite of baptism, which symbolized the 
cleansing from sin or the washing away of the 
previous sinful life. 

The Twelve were still looked upon as the 
special leaders. Their poverty, together with 
the fact that they were Galileans and unlearned 
men, made the priests and leaders of the Jews 
rather indifferent to them at first, but their teach- 
ing of the great Jove of Christ, which was so 
different from the narrow teaching of the tem- 
ple, attracted many of the more influential 
people, and soon the priests and rulers became 

29 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

restless and suspicious of the power of this new 
sect, and questioned how best it might be 
crushed out. 

The disciples were again imprisoned; but 
an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the 
prison, and when the officers came for them, in 
the morning, they were amazed to find them 
again in the temple preaching the gospel of 
Christ. 

Then Gamaliel, a Rabbi, noted for his 
learning, advised that they be let alone; call- 
ing attention to other sects that had arisen, and 
seemed for a time to gain power and then died 
out, and saying: "If this work be of men, it 
will be overthrown, but if it is of God, ye will 
not be able to overthrow them lest haply ye be 
found to fight against God." For a time they 
listened to his counsel; the disciples were set 
free, though beaten and commanded to preach 
no more;but they rejoiced in persecution, and 
the Church grew mightily in members and in 
power. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 3. Jerusalem in the days of the 
apostles. 

The city of Jerusalem, with its three walls 
and its many noted places, will prove an in- 
teresting study. Plan 3 gives the barest out- 
line, and gives it especially for showing the loca- 
30 



The Church of the Apostles 




Plan 3. Jerusalem in the Days of the Apostles. 



31 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

tion of the temple where the formal services 
were held, and the house where the last sup- 
per was eaten, and which very probably was 
the "upper room" of the apostles. 

For the location of Solomon's Porch, refer- 
ence must be made to Plan 2. 

HEART TALK. 

From a material view, this little Church did 
not have very much on its side; it was poor; 
its leaders were unlearned; it had no organiza- 
tion or home of its own; but it had what was 
worth more than all these — it had God's Holy 
Spirit as its motor power, and its success was 
insured from the beginning; no opposition could 
overthrow it; no persecution could discourage it. 

To-day God's Spirit, as the motor power 
of your life, will give you just as much cour- 
age, will make you just as invincible as it did 
the Church of the apostles. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. Who was Barnabas? Acts 4: 36, 37; 
11: 22; 13: 1, 2. 

2. What sin do we find in Acts 5 : 1-1 1 7 , 

3. Where do we learn the meeting place 
of the disciples? 

4. Who commanded the disciples to be wit- 
nesses? Acts 1 : 7, 8. 

32 



The Church of the Apostles 

5. Where do we find Christ's promise to 
those who are persecuted for righteousness' 
sake? 

PRAYER. 

"Grant unto Thy servants, that with all 
boldness they may speak Thy word" Acts 
4:29. 



33 



CHAPTER IV. 
PETER THE LEADER. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living 
God." Matt. 16:16. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. The call of Peter. Matt. 4: 18-22. 

2. Peter the spokesman among the Twelve. 
Matt. 16: 16-25. 

3. Peter a leader in the early Church. 
Acts 3 : 1-1 1. 

4. Peter's first tour. Acts 9: 32-43.' 

5. Peter's vision. Acts 10: 1-16. 

6. Peter in prison. Acts 12. 

7. Peter's first letter. 1 Peter 2: 1-11. 

STORY. 

And Andrew first findeth his own brother 
Simon and saith unto him, "We have fou'nd 
the Messiah." He brought him unto Jesus. 
Jesus looked on him, and said, "Thou art Si- 
mon, the son of John; thou shalt be called 
Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter). n 

34 



Peter the Leader 

This is our introduction to Peter. He had 
been with John the Baptist, and probably was 
present at the time Jesus was baptized. Now 
he is brought face to face with Him to whom 
he is to give the rest of his life. 

With his brother Andrew, and his partners 
James and John, he was a fisherman. He was 
not a poor man, for he had his home first at 
Bethsaida, and later in Capernaum. Here his 
house was large enough, not only for his own 
family, but for Christ and some of His follow- 
ers also. 

After his first meeting with Christ he went 
back for a short time to his regular work; then 
came the call, "Follow Me;" and he and his 
three partners left their nets and became the 
pupils of Jesus. 

Peter was not what one would call a learned 
man, but he had what might correspond to a 
common-school education, and from the very 
first showed a strong spirit of leadership. He 
soon was recognized as the spokesman for the 
apostles, and Christ Himself seems to have 
looked upon him as such. 

Very early in Christ's ministry we find Peter 
among the chosen three, who seem to be the 
close personal friends of the Master, and who 
are with Him, even when the others are not 
permitted to be there. 

35 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

It was Peter who voiced the belief of the 
Twelve when, in answer to Christ's question, 
"Whom say ye that I am?" he replied, "Thou 
art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

Eager, enthusiastic, impetuous, quick to 
speak the first thought that came to him, Peter 
frequently made mistakes; but Jesus saw in 
him the sturdy loyalty of his love, and the great 
possibilities of lifelong heroic service for Him. 

When Christ implied that even the disciples 
would forsake Him, it was Peter who vehe- 
mently replied, "If all shall be offended in 
Thee, I will never be offended;" and yet, before 
the cock crew, he had three times denied ever 
knowing Christ; and then, almost broken- 
hearted at his own weakness, he went out and 
wept bitterly. 

After His resurrection, Christ, in His thrice 
repeated question, "Lovest thou Me?" and in 
His commission to Peter to feed His sheep, 
seems to have showed His confidence in the sin- 
cerity of Peter's repentance, and his loyalty to 
Him; and to have restored him to his position 
of prominence among the Twelve. 

While the acknowledged leader among the 
early Christians, Peter does not appear to have 
assumed any authority superior to that of the 
rest of the apostles, though the intensity of his 
character makes him prominent in all the great 

36 



Peter the Leader 

events, in the early days of the Christian 
Church. A Jew of the Jews, he is as strongly 
bound to Jewish traditions as any of the 
apostles, yet he is among the first to be found 
outside of Judea preaching the gospel. Never- 
theless it takes a vision from God to open his 
eyes, and prove to him that the gospel is in- 
tended for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. 
Even then Peter did not understand that God's 
salvation was free to every one, for he insisted 
that all Gentiles must become Jews, before they 
could be baptized. 

The persecution of the Christians in Jeru- 
salem and Judea had scattered them; wherever 
they went they preached Christ; and Chris- 
tian communities sprang up everywhere. Peter 
made a tour, visiting and strengthening these 
Churches. He is associated with Barnabas in 
the establishment of the Church at Antioch. 

Soon after the martyrdom of James, Peter 
was again thrown into prison. This time the 
angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and 
let Peter out. He went at once to the upper 
room at the home of Mary, where the disciples 
were gathered for prayer. When he rapped 
at the door, and the maid Rhoda announced 
that it was Peter, the disciples could not be- 
lieve her; they were sure Peter was in prison. 
He had some difficulty in persuading them that 

37 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

it really was he. Finally they opened the door. 
When he had told them of his wonderful de- 
livery, he went away into Caesarea to escape 
from Herod. 

From this time not very much is heard of 
Peter. He seems to have completed his special 
work of establishing Christianity in Judea and 
Samaria, and there are others definitely called 
to take it to the ends of the earth. However, 
Peter has a part in this, for six years later he 
is present and takes an active part in the great 
Council at Jerusalem, where Paul is authorized 
to receive the Gentiles into the Church with- 
out their having first become Jews. 

He visited and aided the Church at Corinth 
in its early days, and later went to Rome. It 
was during his residence here, about 68 A. D., 
that he probably wrote his first epistle. His 
close association with Paul at this time, and 
the probability that he had read at least part 
of Paul's epistles, would make it natural that 
he should closely follow these in teaching and 
style. 

While this letter was written to warn Chris- 
tians against certain dangers and to comfort 
and strengthen them, it was written especially 
for those Jews who were still found in every 
Church,, and who needed the authority of the 
older apostles to confirm their faith in the re- 

38 



Peter the Leader 

ligion which Paul taught, and which was so 
different from the old Jewish belief. Peter ex- 
presses in this letter his hearty agreement with 
the teachings of Paul. 

For the later years of the life of Peter 
tradition is more abundant than history. He 
went to Rome during Paul's stay there, and 
had a part in founding the Church of Rome. 
He was martyred about the same time as Paul. 
Tradition says he was crucified, head downward, 
at his own request. The reason given for this 
request is, that Peter said he was not worthy 
to be put to death in the same way that his 
Master was, and that crucifixion with the head 
down, imolied greater ignominy. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 4. The Field of Peter's Activities. 

Plan 4, indicating the different places with 
which the name of Peter is connected, will em- 
phasize the fact that the activities of this great 
leader were confined to a limited territory, and 
that God's special work for him was to a large 
extent the preaching of the gospel in Jerusalem, 
Judea, and Samaria. 

The outline should be drawn and the places 
filled in as the story develops. 



39 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 




Plan 4. The Field of Peter's Activities. 



4 o 



Peter the Leader 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. How was Peter reinstated after his de- 
nial of Christ? John 21: 15-17. 

2. How many recorded instances are there 
of Peter being imprisoned? 

3. Which part of the Book of Acts gives 
the history of Peter? 

4. What lesson did God teach Peter in 
chapter ten? 

5. What two miracles did Peter perform in 
Acts 3:1-9; 9:36-42? 

HEART TALK. 

Perhaps among the Bible characters there 
is not one who brings more encouragement to 
each of us than Peter. He was so like us. He 
did love Christ, but so many times he forgot, 
or he spoke or acted without thinking ; but Jesus 
felt that it was worth while for him to keep 
on trying. 

It seems as though Peter must have felt 
a good many times that there was no use in 
his making an effort to be like the Master; 
but he did not give up, and after Pentecost, 
what a leader he was! 

God thinks it worth while for eacji one of 
us to keep on trying. He sees the man or 
woman that we may be, and not the mistakes 



4 1 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

and failures that so discourage us. Let us go 
on trying for the best there is in us, 

PRAYER. 

"Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. 
Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot 
out all mine iniquities.^ Psa. 51: 7, 9. 



42 



CHAPTER V. 
THE FIRST DEACONS. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the 
Son of man standing on the right hand of God." 
Acts 7: 56. 

bible picture. 

1. The choice of the deacons. Acts 6: 1-7. 

2. Character of Stephen. Acts 6: 5-8, 10. 

3. The accusation of Stephen. Acts 6: 
9-15. 

4. Stephen's defense. 

(1) God's chosen people. Acts 7 : 1-20. 

(2) God's people trained under Moses. 
Acts 7 : 20-43. 

(3) The first tabernacle and the applica- 
tion. Acts 7 : 43-56. 

5. The stoning of Stephen. Acts 7 : 57-60; 
8: 1. 

STORY. 

The Jews even before the time of Christ 
were great colonizers. Wherever an invading 
army carried away a little band of prisoners, 

43 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

a Jewish colony sprung up. This naturally 
resulted in two parties — the Jews born in Judea, 
and speaking the Hebrew language, who were 
called Hebrews, and those born outside of 
Judea, speaking the Greek language, which at 
this time was the almost universal language* of 
commerce, and who were called Greeks or 
Hellenists. 

The Jerusalem Jews were always very poor, 
but among the Hellenists, already was seen the 
keen shrewd business instinct that marked the 
Jews of later days. One of the characteristics 
of the early Church was its great liberality, and 
in this the Hellenist converts were not one whit 
behind the Hebrews. However, as the Church 
grew in numbers, there were naturally some 
differences of opinion, and the day came when 
the Hellenists felt that, in the daily distribu- 
tions of food among the poor, their widows 
were not fairly treated. 

While it was a little matter, the apostles 
felt that there must be no lack of harmony 
among them. They had been called to the 
special work of teaching and preaching, and felt 
that they ought not to give their time to these 
temporal matters. This led to the first divi- 
sion in Church work. It was decided to set 
apart certain men whose special work should 
be to look after the business matters. Seven 

44 



The First Deacons 

men, called deacons, were chosen for this. The 
men chosen were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, 
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a 
proselyte of Antioch. While the names indi- 
cate that they might all have been Hellenists, 
it is probable that they were chosen from both 
parties. 

These men were set apart for their work 
by the laying on of hands, which from this 
time seems to have become the customary form 
of ordination, or consecration to a special work. 

Among these seven thus chosen were two, 
who exercised great influence in shaping the 
policy of the early Church — Philip, after- 
ward known as the Evangelist; and Stephen, 
who seems to have been a man of marked piety 
and spiritual power, for he is characterized as 
a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. 

, The work of these men was not limited to 
the distributing of alms; for they also taught 
and preached, performing signs and wonders. 

Stephen was a Hellenist, and no record is 
given as to when or how he became a Chris- 
tian; some think that his recognizing Jesus 
"standing at the right hand of God" indicates 
that he had been one of His followers, before 
the crucifixion. As a Hellenist, he was broader- 
minded than the Jews who had grown up in the 
shadow of the temple, and was not so bound 

45 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

by the traditions of the Pharisees; for this rea- 
son he could enter more fully into the spirit 
of Christ, as He taught of a salvation for all. 
He may also have seen that Christianity must 
stand by itself, and could not be a sect of 
the Jewish religion. The wisdom and power 
of his preaching attracted attention, and it was 
not long before the cry of blasphemy was raised. 
His teaching was too powerful, and he was 
not showing proper reverence and adoration for 
the temple; and even in the synagogues of the 
Hellenists there were those who were as strict 
in their belief as were the Hebrews them- 
selves. 

As with Christ, no case could be found 
against Him; so false witnesses were called in, 
and a form of trial was gone through. The 
accusation was the same as was brought against 
Christ: "We have heard him say that this Jesus 
of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall 
change the customs which Moses delivered 
unto us." 

"And all that sat in the council, fastening 
their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been 
the face of an angel. And the high priest 
said, Are these things so?" 

The defense of Stephen is one of the great- 
est chapters in the Bible. Without a particle 
of fear, and with great eloquence, he held his 

4 6 



The First Deacons 

audience. They did not intend to be influenced 
by anything he said; but, with the skill of an 
orator, he opened his defense by a review of 
the history of God's dealings with the Israel- 
ites, and their constant rebellion against Him; 
a history for which they had the most reverence. 
Then, turning suddenly, he accused them of 
such devotion to the traditions of their nation 
that they had simply followed its example when 
they murdered Christ. 

Such was the power of his words that even 
these learned Rabbis were "cut to the heart." 
This made them even more angry with 
him. But Stephen had not yet finished. As 
he spoke he looked steadfastly toward heaven, 
and God, knowing his great courage and faith- 
fulness, opened the doors, so that Stephen could 
look into heaven, and there he saw the wonder- 
ful glory of God, and Jesus standing on the 
right hand of God. 

It was such, a' marvelous sight ! It was the 
final proof of all that he had tried to teach, and 
with eyes still turned toward heaven he said, 
as though closing the unanswerable argument, 
"Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son 
of man standing on the right hand of God." 

The fury of the Sanhedrin broke loose at 
this. Here* was blasphemy against God in its 
highest form. It was too dreadful for them to 

• 47 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

even listen to. They stopped their ears as they 
hastened to cast him out of the city. There 
was but one punishment for such a crime, and 
they stoned him with stones, and Stephen, "call- 
ing upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive 
my spirit," kneeled down and cried with a loud 
voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge;" 
and when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 5. The Story told in Stephen's De- 
fense. 

A hasty review of the migrations of God's 
chosen people will add interest to Stephen's 
great address. 

This map should be assigned to some one 
who will prepare himself so as to be able to 
step to the blackboard and, having drawn the 
outline, be able to fill in the map as the story 
is given by the leader for the day. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Before whom was Stephen tried? 

2. With what event in Hebrew history did 
Stephen begin his address? 

3. How many Old Testament characters 
does he mention? 

4. How many Old Testament places of 
worship does he mention? 

48 



The First Deacons 

5. What man is mentioned for the first 
time in connection with the stoning of Stephen? 



HEART TALK. 



Every one in God's service has an oppor- 
tunity to prove his courage and loyalty, and 




Plan 5. The Story Told in Stephen's Defense. 

he who is filled with the Holy Spirit never 
fails. Stephen was chosen to have charge of 
the distribution of food, which might not seem 
a very high office; but he proved that no serv- 
ice for God is insignificant, and that even in 

4 49 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

humble offices, if one is on the lookout, he 
finds great opportunities. 

PRAYER. 

"Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." 
Acts 7 : 60. 



So 



CHAPTER VI. 
OTHER LEADERS. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"He findeth first his own brother Simon, 
and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah 
(which is, being interpreted, the Christ). He 
brought him unto Jesus." John i : 41, 42. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. The first disciples. John 1 : 36-50. 

2. A publican who became a disciple. 
Mark. 2 : 13, 14. 

3. The appointing of the disciples. Mark. 

3: I3-I9- 

4. Extract from letter of James. James, 
chapter 1. 

5. A beautiful doxology. Jude. 

6. The first martyr among the apostles. 
Acts 12:1, 2. 

7. The result of the council at Jerusalem. 
Acts 15 : 22-31. 

51 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
STORY. 

In the exodus from Galilee which followed 
the command of Jesus to His followers, to go 
into Judea, were found the eleven apostles with 
their families, the mother and brothers of Jesus, 
and many others. 

The history of the early Christians is really 
the history of the work of these people. Among 
the leaders are the twelve apostles, though no 
account of the work of many of them is given 
in the Book of Acts. Andrew, who has the 
distinction of being the first of all the apostles 
to follow Jesus, and who seems to have been 
a man of influence, though so quiet in his way 
of working that we hear little of him, is not 
mentioned in the Book of Acts after the first 
chapter, though tradition tells of his preach- 
ing and final martyrdom. 

The writings of the first centuries after 
Christ give accounts of all the apostles, and, 
according to these, all but one were martyred. 
The first to be thus put to death was James, 
the brother of John, who was killed by Herod, 
while he was preaching in Jerusalem. 

Among the active leaders of these early 
Christians, we find two of the brothers of Jesus, 
who were prominent. These brothers had not 
been among the disciples when Jesus lived, but 



52 



Other Leaders 

His resurrection had convinced them that He 
was the Son of God, and at once enlisted them 
in His service. The character of one of them, 
James, is evident from the title of "The Just," 
which was given to him. He was a strong 
character, and became the first bishop of the 
Church in Jerusalem. We are told that he had 
prayed so much that his knees had grown hard 
like those of a camel! He was a Hebrew and 
a regular worshiper in the temple. So strict 
was he that even the Jews who were not Chris- 
tians respected him; but he was also faithful 
in teaching that Christ was the Messiah, and 
for this was stoned a short time before the de- 
struction of Jerusalem. 

He is the author of the Epistle of James, 
which was a letter written to the Jews who had 
been scattered all over the country by the perse- 
cution in Judea. In this letter he insists on a 
practical, active Christianity; that faith alone 
is not enough, but that the true Christian will 
be known by his works as well. Some one has 
said that "his epistle talks the least about Christ, 
but talks the most like Him." Many think 
that this was the last book of the New Testa- 
ment to be written. 

Jude, the other brother of Christ, did not 
take so prominent a place as did James, but 
his epistle, which has been called "the most 

53 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

beautiful doxology in the Bible," shows the 
spirit of the man. 

Barnabas, whose name is first mentioned 
during those early days in Jerusalem, won for 
himself the name of "The Son of Prophesying." 
He was evidently a man of some means, but, 
seeing the poverty of the disciples, he sold his 
land and brought the price of it to them. It 
was Barnabas who went after Paul and brought 
him to Antioch, and who was sent out, from 
that Church, with Paul on the first missionary 
journey. That the apostles had great confidence 
in him is shown by the fact that he was one 
of the men chosen to carry to the Gentile 
Churches letters from the great Council at Jeru- 
salem. More will be heard of him in connection 
with Saul. 

The apostle John, in a way, stands by him- 
self, and will be studied in another story. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Name three things that James empha- 
sizes in the first chapter of the Epistle of James. 

2. How many chapters in the Book of 
Jude? 

3. By what title does Jude call God in the 
last verse of his epistle? 

4. How does James define religion in 
James 1 : 27 ? 

54 



Other Leaders 

5. Write a list of all the people whose 
names you can remember who belonged to the 
early Church in Jerusalem. 

HEART TALK. 

The people who get their names in the paper 
are not always the ones who do the most im- 
portant things. The Book of Acts scarcely 
mentions the name of Andrew, and yet it was 
Andrew who first brought Peter to Christ. It 
does not mention anything that James had done, 
and yet Herod knew about him, and thought 
him a great enough preacher to put him to 
death. 

We may not be able to do the things that 
seem big, but if we do each day the things that 
God has for us to do, we will be surprised some 
day to find how much they count in God's 
sight. 

PRAYER. 

"O. Lord, open Thou my lips; and my 
mouth shall show forth Thy praise." Psa. 
51: 15. 



55 



CHAPTER VII. 
SOME JERUSALEM CHRISTIANS. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"For God gave us not a spirit of fearful- 
ness; but of power, and love, and discipline." 
2 Tim. i : 7. 

bible picture. 

1. In the upper room. Acts 1:13, 14. 

2. The home of Mary. Acts 12: 12. 

3. John Mark. Acts 15: 37-39. 

4. Silas. Acts 15 : 40. 

5. Those who were chosen deacons. Acts 
6: 5. 

6. The brothers of Christ. Acts 1: 14; 
Matt. 13: 55. 

7. The women. Acts 1 : 14; Luke 24: 10. 

STORY. 

Of the one hundred and twenty who were 
gathered in the upper room, or of the private 
members of the circle of the disciples, but few 
are named. 

It will be easy to imagine some who were 

56 



Some Jerusalem Christians 

there. Lazarus, if he still lived, would surely 
be there; Rufus and Alexander, the sons of 
Simon of Cyrene, who bore the cross for Christ, 
were not only among the Jerusalem Christians, 
but were among the first to carry the good 
news of Christ's gospel to others; and Matthias, 
who was chosen to fill the place of Judas, was 
among the number found in Judea ; also Joseph 
Barnabas. Not only James and Jude, of 
Christ's brothers, but Simon and Joses, would 
be active in his service. 

Among the women, Mary and Martha, 
Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Joanna, would 
not be missing, nor would the mother of John 
Mark; indeed, it is altogether probable that 
this very upper room may have been in her 
home. She appears to have been a woman 
of sufficient means to have a large home of 
her own. This home was always open to the 
disciples, and was evidently their regular place 
of meeting for prayer. It was to this home 
that Peter at once went when released from 
prison by the angel of God. The maid, Rhoda, 
was present at this prayer-meeting, and that 
she, too, was one of the members of this com- 
pany is shown by her immediate recognition 
of the voice of Peter. 

The young man, John Mark, appears to 
have been won for Christ by Peter. It is 

57 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

thought by many that he was the amanuensis, 
or secretary, of Peter, and that the Gospel of 
Mark was written by him at Peter's dictation. 
John Mark started with Barnabas and Saul on 
their first missionary journey, but becoming 
faint-hearted, left them and returned home. 
For this reason Paul refused to allow him to 
go with them on the second journey. Barnabas, 
however, took him with him. In the Second 
Epistle to Timothy Paul asks that Mark be 
sent to him as a helper, and he probably re- 
mained with Paul in Rome till the time of his 
martyrdom. There is no authentic record of 
Mark after this time. 

Silas is spoken of as a "prophet" or teacher 
in the Christian community at Jerusalem, and 
was sent with others to the Church at Antioch, 
where he became acquainted with Paul, whom 
he accompanied on his second missionary jour- 
ney. With Paul he was imprisoned at Philippi. 
At Berea he was left with Timothy to build 
up the converts. He rejoined Paul at Thessa- 
lonica, and letters written from there are sent 
in the names of Paul and Silas. Paul also men- 
tions him as a fellow worker, in his second 
letter to the Corinthians. From this time he 
seems to have dropped out from among the 
prominent workers, and nothing further is 
known of him. 

58 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

The Bible narrative could not give the ac- 
count of nearly all who helped in the early 
days, and so has given us only those events 
which have had some marked effect in the mak- 
ing of the Christian Church. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. How many brothers had Jesus among, 
these disciples? 

2. Who beside the disciples are mentioned 
as being assembled in the upper room? 

3. In what way did Mary, the mother of 
John Mark, help? 

4. Why did Paul refuse to take John Mark 
with him on his second missionary journey? 

5. How did the belief of these people differ 
from the belief of those around them? 

HEART TALK. 

All about the early Christians were the 
Jews who did not believe in Christ. It was 
not easy to stand strong and true to what they 
believed. It was harder for the people who 
did not preach and teach than it was for the 
leaders, because it is always harder just to be 
true, than it is to do work that seems important. 
Then, too, their friends and neighbors would 
ridicule them or try to frighten them. But they 
had the power of God's Spirit, and so could 

60 



Some Jerusalem Christians 

stand firm. The hardest work we have to do 
is just to be true day after day; but God's 
Spirit will help us even as it did the early Chris- 
tians. 

PRAYER. 

"I pray not that Thou shouldest take them 
from the world, but that Thou shouldest keep 
them from the evil one." John 17: 15. 



61 



PART II. 
IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
THE GOSPEL EXTENDED BY PHILIP. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it 
with thy might." Eccles. 9: 10. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

1. Philip set apart for special service. Acts 
6: 1-6. 

2. Philip in Samaria. Acts 8 : 3-8. 

3. Simon Magus. Acts 8:9-13. 

4. Peter and John in Samaria. Acts 8 : 

14-17. 25. 

5. The mistake of Simon Magus. Acts 
8: 18-24. 

6. Philip and the Ethiopian. Acts 8 : 
26-40. 

7. Philip and Paul. Acts 21: 8-15. 

STORY. 

The fury of the Jews, which led to the 
martyrdom of Stephen, resulted in a general 
persecution of the Christians, especially the 
Hellenists. Among the foremost in this perse- 

5 65 . 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

cution was the young Rabbi, Saul, who, dressed 
in the pure white robe of the strict Pharisee, 
was not satisfied to drive the Greek Christians 
from Jerusalem, but went from place to place, 
arresting and imprisoning them. Among those 
driven from Jerusalem was Philip, one of the 
seven deacons, afterward known as the Evan- 
gelist. Forgetting the Jewish prejudice, he 
went down into the country of the despised 
Samaritans. So strong was the hatred of the 
Jews against these people that they were not 
even allowed to become members of the Jewish 
Church, or Jewish proselytes, as they were 
called. 

Philip, however, like Stephen, must have 
felt as Paul did later, that Christ wished His 
gospel to be preached to all people; for he be- 
gan preaching among the Samaritans, and many 
of them were led to believe in Christ. Among 
these was Simon Magus, a magician, who 
had great influence over the people. He, with 
a multitude of others, was baptized by Philip, 
though his later actions proved that he had not 
really understood Philip's message of salva- 
tion. 

When the Church in Jerusalem heard of 
this work of Philip, they sent Peter and John 
down to help him. God showed His approval, 
by sending His Holy Spirit upon these Samari- 

66 



The Gospel Extended by Philip 

tan converts, as He had upon the Jewish be- 
lievers. They were really the first Gentile com- 
munity recognized by the apostles, and this 
was the first step in the founding of a Christian 
Church instead of a Jewish sect of Christians. 

We next find Philip on a journey toward 
Gaza. As he traveled, he came upon a chariot 
in which sat an Ethiopian reading aloud, as is 
the custom of the Orientals. As Philip drew 
near he was surprised to find that he was read- 
ing from the Prophet Isaiah. Going along- 
side of the chariot, Philip, with the freedom of 
his country, spoke to the Ethiopian, and asked 
him if he understood what he read. Something 
in his manner must have impressed the Ethi- 
opian with his ability to help him, for he in- 
vited him to come up into his chariot. In this 
Philip again showed a broad-minded disregard 
of national and religious prejudice, for even at 
this time the descendants of Ham were a de- 
spised race; and while this subject of Queen 
Candace of Ethiopia had undoubtedly been up 
to Jerusalem to worship, he had not been al- 
lowed within the temple. He must have be- 
longed to the class which they called proselytes 
of the gate, though they might more truly have 
called them proselytes outside the gate, for that 
was what it really meant. 

As they rode, Philip showed the Ethiopian 

6 7 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

how the words of Isaiah referred to Christ, and 
had come true in Him, and as he listened he 
believed. When they came to a stream of 
water he said to Philip, "See, here is water; 
what hindereth me to be baptized?" So they 
descended from the chariot, and Philip bap- 
tized him in the name of Christ; through him 
the gospel was sent into Africa. 

During the Jewish war in A. D. 6$, Philip 
probably fled from Palestine; for we next find 
him, with his four daughters, who had a gift 
of prophecy, in Caesarea, where Paul spent 
many days with him, on his return from his 
third missionary journey. It was in the home 
of Philip, that Agabus the prophet tried to per- 
suade Paul not to go to Jerusalem, prophesying 
that trouble awaited him there. But Paul, 
knowing that God had work for him to do in 
Jerusalem, would not be persuaded. 

After this we know nothing of Philip; but 
his trustful obedience and alertness in avail- 
ing himself of every opportunity of service, un- 
doubtedly made his life one of continued power 
to the end. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 6. The Missionary Tour of Philip. 

The scattering of the disciples by the perse- 
cution bring Samaria and the surrounding 
countries into the study. 

68 



The Gospel Extended by Philip 



+• Tardus 




Plan 6. The Missionary Tour of Philip. 



6 9 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Plan 6 gives the territory of Philip's first 
tour and also his final residence, Caesarea. 

For this plan the entire story is given in 
the Bible picture. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. When do we first hear of Philip? 

2. What was the cause of his leaving Jeru- 
salem ? 

3. How did Simon Magus show that he 
did not understand the power of Christ? 

4. In which direction did Philip go when 
he first left Jerusalem and in which direction 
was he traveling when he met the Ethiopian? 

5. What prophet came to the house of 
Philip to show Paul what would happen to him 
in Jerusalem ? Acts 21: 11. 

HEART TALK. 

It is wonderful how one who has his eyes 
open finds things to do that others do not see 
at all. We often say, "There is nothing that 
boys and girls can do for Christ; at least, there 
is nothing I can do." Try Philip's plan. Keep 
your eyes open. If you see anything, do not 
wait to see if some one else will do it, but step 
into the opportunity, and trust God to help 
you do it in the right way. 

PRAYER. 

"Open Thou mine eyes." PsA. 119: 18. 
70 



CHAPTER IX. 
THE BOYHOOD OF SAUL. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"In love of the brethren he tenderly affec- 
tioned one to another; in honor preferring one 
another" Rom. 12: 10. 

BIBLE PICTURB. 

i. The Scripture in the Mezuzah. Deut. 
6: 4-9. 

2. The training of Jewish children. Deut. 
4: 1-9. 

3. Another Jewish boy. 2 Tim. 1:4, 5; 
1 Tim. 3:15. 

4. The custom of wearing the praying 
shawl may have grown out of the command 
given in Num. 15: 37-39. 

5. Pharisees. Matt. 5:20; Luke 11: 
42-44. 

6. Rabbi Gamaliel. Acts 5 : 34; Acts 22 : 3. 

7. Saul at the stoning of Stephen. Acts 8 : 
i-3- 

71 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
STORY. 

In the days when Jesus was a boy in Naza- 
reth, and when for the first time He went up 
to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover, an- 
other Jewish boy was growing up in the far-off 
Roman city of Tarsus. 

His father, for some service rendered the 
Roman emperor, had been granted the great 
honor of Roman citizenship; but he was a 
Pharisee of the strictest sort, and when this 
baby boy was eight days old he was. taken up 
to the temple, and given two names; one after 
the first king of Israel, Saul, and the other the 
Roman name, Paul. 

In his father's home, as • in every Jewish 
home, was a bright metal box, called the Mezu- 
zah, in which were found words of the sacred 
Scriptures. Each person passing in or out the 
door touched this with his fingers, then kissed 
his fingers, as he repeated a few words of prayer 
or Scripture to himself. 

Long before little Saul could speak, he was 
carried toward this shining box, and then, as 
his chubby fingers touched the pretty "play- 
thing," they were put to his lips, and he soon 
learned to kiss them, as the grown people did. 

As soon as he was old enough, he was 
taught to pray, kneeling with his face toward 

72 



The Boyhood of Saul 

Jerusalem. If he asked why he must always 
kneel that way, he was tald about the great 
shining temple in Jerusalem. As his mother 
held him in her arms, she told him the stories 
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of Joseph in 
his coat of many colors; of the baby Moses, of 
whom God took such good care; of David and 
Solomon, and all the stories of the Old Testa- 
ment. 

When he was five years old, his father be- 
came his teacher, and his first lesson was the 
first verse of Deuteronomy, which his father or 
mother said to him in Greek, and which he .re- 
peated over and over till he knew it; then he 
learned the next verse in the same way. 

At six years of age Saul must start to 
school. His father and mother had nothing to 
say about it, for the law had said that every 
Jewish boy must go to school at that age. 

Look at the school-room — a little, dingy 
place, with no pictures, desks, or even seats. 
Every boy sat upon the floor; but he had no 
books to trouble him. There was not even a 
book for the teacher. In a singsong voice he 
repeated the lesson, and the pupils all repeated 
it after him; this was done over and over again 
till it was memorized. As every one repeated 
it aloud, a Jewish school-room was not a very 
quiet place. 

73 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Saul was now old enough to attend the 
services in the synagogue, and, with his mother, 
he would sit behind the lattice-work where he 
could hear the teacher read and pray and speak. 

His mother made him a little praying shawl, 
like his father's, with blue tassels at the corners, 
to wear under his turtic, and he was taught never 
to put it on in the morning without repeating 
a prayer. 

It seemed as though almost everything his 
father and mother did was a part of their re- 
ligious worship, and though little Saul asked a 
great many questions, it took him a long time to 
learn it all; but every day he learned to feel 
more and more that the Jews were God's 
chosen people, and that He was their God only. 
He learned, too, that if he wished to please 
Him he must have nothing to do with strangers, 
and must not even be kind to boys who were 
not Jews. 

Saul not only had to learn many parts of the 
Bible by heart, but there were hundreds of rules, 
which the Rabbis had made, that he must learn. 
He learned to write on a small flat piece of 
wood with chalk, and his copies were always 
Bible verses. These he must learn to write in 
both Greek and Hebrew. 

By the time he was eight years old he could 
read well, and sometimes his father would al- 

74 



The Boyhood of Saul 

low him to unroll one of the brown paper rolls, 
on which the books of Moses were written, and 
read them aloud to him in the Hebrew lan- 
guage, in which they were written. 

A Jewish school had many holidays; for 
the Jews had frequent feasts, which every good 
Jew must attend. Although Jerusalem was four 
hundred miles from Tarsus, Saul's father, and 
many other Jews from Tarsus, went up every 
year to attend the Feast of the Passover, but 
the journey was too long and hard for the 
children. 

At the age of thirteen Saul, like Christ, be- 
came what was called a "Son of the Law," and 
was now considered a man. 

He graduated from the little synagogue 
school; but Saul was to be a great Rabbi, so 
he must study harder than ever. There was 
still another thing that he must do. Every 
Jewish boy must learn a trade; and with his 
father he began learning to make tents, and 
also to weave the coarse cloth of which the 
tents were made. 

The time came at last, when, if he were to 
be a Rabbi, he must go up to Jerusalem, where 
he could study under the great teachers in the 
temple. He bids farewell to his mother, and, 
with his father and others going to attend the 
Passover, he makes the long journey, and is 

75 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

entered as a student in the school of the Rabbis. 
Although but fifteen years old he now remains 
in Jerusalem, away from father and mother. 

Under the great teachers, Hillel and Ga- 
maliel, Saul learned the rules and beliefs of the 
Pharisees, and as he grew to be a young man 
he became more and more bitter against any 
one who was not a Jew and a Pharisee; for 
was not Jehovah the God of the Jews, and 
the Pharisees His chosen interpreters of His 
Word? 

Saul never did anything by halves, and 
among all the young Rabbis he was the most 
strict. No service was too great, no requirement 
too rigid for him, and thus he developed the 
strong, forceful character that was, later, to 
make him the greatest leader in the Christian 
Church. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

For this lesson Plan 6 may be used, the 
city of Tarsus being added. The interest will 
be increased if some study is made of the city 
of Tarsus and its surroundings. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Where was the home of Saul? 

2. What was Saul's nationality? 

3. What right has he to call himself a 
Roman citizen? 

76 



The Boyhood of Saul 

4. What languages did he speak? 

5. How do we know he was a pupil of 
Gamaliel? 

HEART TALK. 

From the time Saul was a little boy all of 
his teaching made him a bitter enemy of those 
who did not believe, or think just as the Jews 
did, and so he was ready, when the time came, 
to lead in the persecutions of those who be- 
lieved that Christ was the Messiah. After 
he knew Christ he learned a better way, and 
he writes to the Church at Rome and tells 
them to be kind to one another and to have 
respect for those who' differ from them. Which 
Saul would you rather have for a friend? 

PRAYER. 

"Teach me good judgment and knowledge;' 
for I have believed in Thy commandments" 

PSA. 119:66. 



77 



CHAPTER X. 
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, 
whom the Father will send in My name, He 
shall teach you all things. John 14:26. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. The young man Saul. Acts 7:58. 

2. Saul the persecutor. Acts 8: 1-4; 1 Cor. 
15:9. 

3. On the road to Damascus. Acts 9: 1-9. 

4. The message to Ananias. Acts 9 : 10-17. 

5. Ananias and Saul. Acts 9: 17, 18. 

6. Paul's account of his conversion. Acts 
26: 8-20. 

7. Persecution of Paul. Acts 9: 23-26. 

STORY. 

"And the witnesses laid down their clothes 
at the feet of a young man, whose name was 
Saul." This is the first mention of Saul in the 
Bible, and the witnesses were those who stoned 
Stephen. 

The Jewish boy, so carefully trained in all 

78 



The Conversion of Saul 

the laws and traditions of the Pharisee, was 
now a young Rabbi, who was one of those 
who consented to the death of Stephen. This 
was but the first step in a general persecution of 
the followers of Christ, in which they were 
scattered abroad throughout Judea and Sa- 
maria. 

In this persecution the young man Saul was 
the leader. He went at this as he did every- 
thing else; entering every house he arrested not 
only the men, but the women also, and made 
sad havoc in the Church. Not satisfied with 
imprisonment, he put many to death; and yet, 
as he himself says more than once, he thought 
he was doing God service. In his eyes these 
men were blasphemers, and the only way to 
stamp out this new sect, which every one could 
see was gaining power, was to either destroy 
them or compel them to renounce Christ. 

Many fled from Jerusalem, but Saul armed 
with letters from the high priest followed them 
even to Damascus, intending to bring them 
back as prisoners. 

It would be interesting to follow Saul on 
this journey, but the Bible gives no intimations 
as to his route. He must have passed through 
Galilee, and here he would meet many people 
who had been with Jesus, and who believed 
in Him, because they had listened to Him and 

79 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

seen the miracles which He had performed. As 
Saul rode on, he could not help being impressed 
with the simple faith and loyalty of these dis- 
ciples; but ever and again he came back to the 
one conclusion, "They are untrue to the temple 
and the laws and traditions of Moses," and 
they must be crushed out. He pushed on more 
fiercely toward Damascus. 

As' he neared the city, tired, almost pros- 
trated with the heat, and nearly blinded by the 
scorching rays of the sun, as it beat down upon 
the white stones of the road, suddenly there 
came a dazzling flash of light, and Saul fell to 
the earth. A voice said to him, "Saul, Saul, 
why persecutest thou Me?" Saul needed no 
one to tell him whose the voice was. He had 
been too honest and sincere in what he thought 
was the service of God, not to know His voice, 
and he answered, calling Him by name, "Who 
art Thou, Lord?" 

The voice replied, "I am Jesus whom thou 
persecutest." 

This was a surprise. Jesus was speaking to 
him in God's voice ? What could it mean? Had 
he been mistaken after all? 

Trembling and astonished he said, "Lord, 
what wilt Thou have me to do?" and the voice 
replied, "Rise and enter into the city, and it 
shall be told thee what thou must do." 

80 



The Conversion oi Saul 

The men who were with him stood speech- 
less with fear; for they saw the light and heard 
the voice, but could not understand the words. 

When Saul rose from the ground they 
found that he was entirely blind, and they were 
obliged to lead him into the city. For three 
days he was in darkness, fighting the greatest 
battle of his life. It was not easy for him to 
give up those traditions and beliefs which he had 
spent his life in learning, and yet Jesus Himself 
had spoken to him. It was a hard struggle, 
but Saul was too true and great a man to say 
"No" to the voice of the Lord. 

At the end of three days God sent a man 
named Ananias unto Saul, who said to him, 
"Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who ap- 
peared unto thee in the way which thou earnest, 
has sent me, that thou mightest receive thy 
sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And 
straightway there fell from his eyes as it were 
scales, and he received his sight, and he arose 
and was baptized. 

Saul had studied for twenty years with the 
Rabbis in Jerusalem, but he must now learn 
new lessons; and this time he goes away from 
the temple, away from the Rabbis and teachers, 
into the desert, where he can be alone with the 
Great Teacher, and learn from Him the les- 
sons and truths He would have him know. 
6 81 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

When Saul first appears in the synagogue 
preaching that Jesus is the Son of God, every 
one is amazed. Is not this the man that came 
here with letters to the priests? Is it not the 
man that took many of us bound to Jerusalem? 

Never had there been such a preacher as this 
among them. All the vigor and learning which 
had been directed against the followers of 
Jesus was now enlisted in His service, and, 
with increasing power, Saul proved again and 
again, in the very face of the Jews of Damas- 
cus, that Jesus was the Christ. 

So angered were they at his teaching that 
they watched the gates day and night, that they 
might kill him. At last he could no longer 
preach in Damascus, and, watching their op- 
portunity, his followers let him stealthily down 
over the city walls, whence he escaped safely to 
Jerusalem, there to enter upon the great work 
unto which Jesus Himself had called him. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 7. From Jerusalem to Jerusalem. 

The route of Paul, while not known, would 
very probably have led him in the direction in- 
dicated by the dotted lines from Jerusalem to 
Damascus, thence to the desert, back to Damas- 
cus, and, when driven from there, to Jerusalem. 

He would have found the journey not an 

82 



The Conversion of Saul 



Anbiock 



THE GREAT 6£A 




ARA3/ A 



Plan 7. From Jerusalem to Jerusalem. 



83 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

easy one, over the mountains and through the 
gorges, in the burning light of the sun reflected 
from the white stones of the roads and the 
mountain sides. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. How many accounts of Saul's conversion 
are found in the Book of Acts? 

2. What did God tell Ananias that Saul's 
work was to be? 

3. What reason did God give Ananias for 
sending him to Saul? 

4. Who were the first to turn against Saul? 

5. How did they plan to prevent his es- 



cape? 



HEART TALK. 



There was no half-hearted service with Saul. 
When he found out that he had been in the 
wrong, he turned squarely about and worked 
just as hard on the other side. This is what is 
meant by Saul's conversion. He turned about 
and worked for instead of against Christ. No 
one can sit on the fence. If you are not for 
Christ you are against Him. To-day He wants 
you to turn squarely about, and "pitch in" on 
His side. Will you do it? 

PRAYER. 

"What shall 1 do, Lord?" Acts 22:10. 
84 



PART III. 

UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS 
OF THE EARTH. 



CHAPTER XL 
A VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"0/ a truth I perceive that God is no re- 
specter of persons! 1 Acts 10:34. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. Peter at Lydda. Acts 9:31-35. 

2. Peter at Joppa. Acts 9:36-43. 

3. Cornelius's vision. Acts 10:1-8. 

4. Peter's vision. Acts 10:9-17. 

5. Peter and Cornelius. Acts 10:18-33. 

6. The Holy Spirit sent. Acts 10:33-48. 

7. Peter and the Apostles. Acts 11:1-18. 

STORY. 

Following the conversion of Saul came a 
period of rest from persecution. The Churches 
in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria multiplied. 

During these days of peace the Church sent 
Peter, on what was called, "an apostolic visita- 
tion," to all the Churches. Having visited the 
Churches on the way, Peter came to Lydda, 

87 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

where he found a Church well established. 
Among the Christians here was a sick man, 
who had been in bed eight years. Peter said to 
him, "iEneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, 
and make thy bed." And straightway he 
arose. 

The news of this miracle spread not only 
through the city, but to neighboring cities. At 
Joppa a woman, who had been very charitable 
and had done many things for the poor, was 
taken sick and died. Her friends had heard 
how Peter had healed iEneas, and they sent to 
him, asking him to come quickly to Joppa. 

Peter returned with the messengers, and, 
coming to the house of Tabitha, which means 
Dorcas, he asked every one to leave the room. 
He then kneeled down and prayed to God. 
Turning to the woman, he said, "Tabitha, 
arise," and she opened her eyes and rose up. 

Again the fame of Peter was great, and so 
many came to hear him that he remained for 
some time in Joppa, the guest of Simon, a 
tanner. 

At this time there lived in Caesarea a man 
whose name was Cornelius, who had heard of 
Jesus, and who greatly wanted to become His 
follower, but he did not understand this new 
religion. 

While Peter was at Joppa God sent a mes- 

88 



A Visitation of the Churches 

senger to Cornelius telling him to send for 
Peter. Cornelius was a Roman, not even a 
Roman Jew, and he may not have known that 
it would not be lawful for Peter, a Jew, to 
come into his house; but if he did, it made no 
difference, for he at once called his servants and 
ordered them to go to Joppa and bring Peter. 

But what of Peter? God knew that Peter 
was too good a Jew to go into the home of a 
Gentile, and so, while the messengers of Cor- 
nelius were on the way, he sent to Peter a vision. 

As he was on the house-top at noonday, he 
saw a sheet let down from heaven by the four 
corners, and in it were all kinds of birds, ani- 
mals, and creeping things. A voice said to 
him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat;" but Peter said, 
"Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything 
that is common or unclean," anything that the 
Jews are forbidden to eat. The voice replied, 
"What God has cleansed, make not thou com- 
mon." This was done three times, and then 
taken up into heaven. 

Just then the message of Cornelius was 
brought to him, and Peter knew that God meant 
that he should go into this Gentile home. He 
does not hesitate, but goes with the servants, 
and when he is come to the house of Cornelius 
he' learns how God has told this Roman centu- 
rion to send for him. 

8 9 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

He found also, that Cornelius had gathered 
his family and friends together to hear him, 
and, as Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit descended 
upon this company of Jews and Gentiles, and 
all were amazed. 

Peter was convinced by this that the religion 
of Christ was for the Gentiles as well as for the 
Jews, and before leaving he baptized many of 
them in the name of Jesus Christ. 

When the apostle3 in Jerusalem heard how 
Peter had been in the house of Cornelius, and 
had baptized those of his household who were 
not Jews, they called him to account. Peter 
told them the whole story, concluding with 
these words, "If, then, God gave unto them the 
like gift as He did also unto us, when we be- 
lieved on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, 
that I could withstand God?" 

And when they heard these things, they 
held their peace, and glorified God, saying, 
"Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted 
repentance unto life." 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 8. An Oriental house. 

The journey of Peter may be traced on Plan 

6, but for the crayon work to-day an Oriental 

house is given, indicating the outside stairway, 

the flat roof to which Peter had retired to pray 

90 



A Visitation of the Churches 

when he saw the vision, and the door at which 
the messenger stood. 

While there is some variety in the Oriental 
houses, the model given is of the general type. 




Plan 8. An Oriental House. 
SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. What was the result of the healing of 
iEneas. 

2. Who was Tabitha? 

3. What was the vision of Cornelius? 

4. What was the subject of Peter's sermon 
in the home of Cornelius? 

5. Did the apostles always remember what 
they said in Acts 11 : 1 8 . 



HEART TALK. 

Sometimes there come into our schools or 
Sunday-schools those who are not our kind, and 

91 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

we somehow have a feeling that they do not 
belong there. We may not be as outspoken as 
Peter was, but we just "let them alone." God 
had hard work to teach the Jewish apostles 
that His Church was a Church for every one, 
whether of their kind or not, but we ought to 
understand this better than they did. ( Shall we 
not open the doors of our Junior League and 
our Sunday-school class to every one for whom 
Christ died? 

PRAYER. 

"Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of Thy 
statutes." Psa. 119:33. 



92 



CHAPTER XII. 
THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"And the disciples were called Christians 
first in Antioch." Acts 11:26. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. Barnabas. Acts 4:36, 37. 

2. Saul and the disciples in Jerusalem. 
Acts 9 : 26-28. 

3. Driven from Jerusalem. Acts 9: 28-30. 

4. Christ preached in Antioch. Acts 11: 
19-21. 

5. Barnabas sent to Antioch. Acts 11: 
22-24. 

6. Saul sent for. Acts 11:25, 26. 

7. The generosity of the Christians at An- 
tioch. Acts 1 1 : 27-30. 

STORY. 

Escaping from Damascus, Saul made his 
way toward Jerusalem. Three years before 
he had left there, armed with authority from 

93 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

the high priest to bring all Christians, bound, 
to Jerusalem; and now he was going back, a 
Christian himself. He had changed the spot- 
less white robe of the Pharisee, for the brown 
coat and striped turban of the traveling Jew. 
No one recognized him as the cruel young 
Rabbi, as he preached in the synagogue on the 
Sabbath, or spoke so reverently of Christ. 

When he came to the villages which Christ 
had visited, he stopped to talk with the people 
about Him, and listened eagerly to all they had 
to tell. At last he drew near to Jerusalem. 
One can almost see him stand with bowed head, 
as again he looks upon the temple ; but this time 
he sees not Gamaliel or Hillel, not even the 
high priest, but he sees Jesus, as He stood in 
the temple courts and taught the people. From 
this time there is but one vision for Saul — Jesus 
Christ, his Savior: the Savior of the world. 

He would be glad to linger long, thinking 
of all that has happened in and about Jerusa- 
lem; but he moves on, and comes into the city. 

How strange it must seem for him, instead 
of reporting at once to the high priest, to go to 
the home of Mary, where he knew the disciples 
held their meetings ! 

He meets Barnabas, whom he may have 
known before, and who listens with great in- 
terest as Saul tells of all that has befallen him; 

94 



The Church in Antioch 

when the story is ended, the warm-hearted Bar- 
nabas extends his hand in welcome. 

The other disciples, however, are suspicious 
of him at first, and draw back. This must have 
hurt Saul, and yet, as he looked back at the 
fierceness of his persecutions, he was not sur- 
prised. With Barnabas as his friend he gradu- 
ally won the confidence of the others. Peter 
was one of the first to admit him into the fel- 
lowship of the disciples; he even invited him 
into his own home, where he learned many 
things that he could learn only from one who 
had been with Jesus. 

Soon Saul began preaching in the syna- 
gogues, where he had formerly persecuted the 
Christians, and he preached with even greater 
zeal and earnestness than he had persecuted. 
His friends of the other days were enraged. 
They formed a league against him. He should 
be stoned, even as Stephen had been. A few 
old friends, however, were true to him, and he 
was warned. He was disguised and hurried out 
of the city. 

He now turns his face toward his old boy- 
hood home in Tarsus. How will they treat him 
there? Will they, too, drive him out? The 
brown-coated Jew enters the city, and imme- 
diately takes up his trade of tent-making. His 
friends are glad to see him; but when the 

95 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Sabbath day comes and he stands up in the 
synagogue preaching Christ, many at once be- 
come his eaemies ; but he speaks with such con- 
fidence that what he is saying is true, that others 
believe him and he soon has quite a following. 

While Saul was in Tarsus, Barnabas was 
sent to Antioch to preach to the Christians who 
fled to that city. The interest here is so great, 
and the people are so anxious to know about 
Christ, that Barnabas thinks Saul is the best 
man for them. 

He goes, himself, to Tarsus in search of 
him. Saul gladly leaves his work there, and to- 
gether they return to Antioch. Reaching the 
city, Saul goes immediately to the Jewish quar- 
ters. His first work is to find a room in which he 
can carry on his trade, for he must earn his own 
living. Then, too, he must have a place where 
people can come to talk with him. 

It was not long before he was preaching in 
every synagogue. His texts from week to week 
we do not know, but from his letters we know 
the subject of all his sermons. "Jesus the 
Christ!" were words which those people must 
have heard over and over again. 

For one year Saul preached in Antioch, and 
people from all over the city came' to hear him. 
Crowds thronged the synagogues, not alone 
Jews but many Gentiles, and again and again 

9 6 



The Church in Antioch 

they heard the words, "Jesus the Christ! Jesus 
the Christ!" 

Every one was talking of the meetings. 
Soon here and there in the city streets one might 
hear the name "Christians," followers of Christ. 
It was a new name; no one had ever heard it 
before, but somehow it seemed so suitable that 
it soon came to be generally adopted as the 
name for Christ's followers. 

While such great things are going on in 
Antioch, the Christians in Jerusalem are having 
a hard time. A famine had spread over the 
land, and food was scarce. The news reached 
Antioch, and the Church at once decided to 
send relief. 

An offering was taken, and Saul, Barnabas, 
and a young Christian named Titus were se- 
lected to purchase supplies and take to the breth- 
ren in Jerusalem; thus Antioch took its place 
in the Church of Christ, its members helping 
one another, and ministering to the necessities 
of others as Christians always must. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 9. From Jerusalem to Tarsus. 

In going from Jerusalem to Tarsus, Paul 
might have taken either of two routes. He 
might have traveled northward from Jerusalem 
to Antioch by land, from there to Seleucia, and 

7 97 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 




Anbiock 



THE G^^AT SE# 




AKA3/A 



Plan 9. From Jerusalem to Antioch. 



9 8 



The Church in Antioch 

thence to Tarsus; or he might have gone from 
Jerusalem to Caesarea, and thence by water to 
Tarsus, in which case he would probably have 
touched at Seleucia. 

In his choice of routes he would have been 
governed by the time of the year. Not being 
able to ascertain this, we are left in uncertainty 
as to his route, but on the plan have indicated 
the water route as more probably the one se- 
lected. In any event, his return to Antioch 
would be by boat. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Who would Saul be apt to meet in the 
home of Mary? 

2. To whom did those who were scattered 
by the persecutions preach? 

3. What is the meaning of the name Chris- 
tian ? 

4. How many times has Saul been perse- 
cuted thus far? 

5. Name the different places where we know 
that Saul preached. 

HEART TALK. 

Saul had studied for many years in the 
preparation for his work as a Rabbi. When 
he found Christ he went away into the desert 
that God might teach him; next he sat at the 

99 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

feet of Peter in Jerusalem, and perhaps thought 
that he was now ready to go to work; but not 
so. In Tarsus, God was still preparing him 
for the work He had for him to do. When 
God saw that he was fully prepared for service, 
He sent Barnabas to bring him to Antioch. 

God has a special work for each one of us 
to do, but we must be trained for it. We do 
not always understand the training or why we 
must wait so long; but if, like Paul, we are 
ready for each thing as it comes, whatever it 
may be, God will make no mistake in the train- 
ing, and in His own time He will put us into 
the work He has for us. 

PRAYER. 

"Teach me Thy way, O Jehovah; I will 
walk in Thy truth." Psa. 86: n. 



IOO 



CHAPTER XIII. 

PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Then said I, Lo I come (in the roll of the 
book it is written of me) to do Thy will, O 
God." Heb. 10:7. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. Set apart for service. Acts 13: 1-3. 

2. On the island of Cyprus. Acts 13 : 4-12. 
Saul becomes Paul. 13:9. 

3. Antioch in Pisidia. Acts 13: 14-50. 

4. At Iconium. Acts 14: 1-5. 

5. At Lystra and Derbe. Acts 14:6-20. 

6. The return trip. Acts 14:21-28. 

7. The Council at Jerusalem. Acts 15: 
1-29. 

STORY. 

The relief committee from Antioch found 
the Christians in Jerusalem in great need, and 
the supplies sent were gladly received. After 
fulfilling their mission, Saul, Barnabas, and 

IOI 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Titus returned to Antioch, taking with them the 
young man John Mark. 

The number of Christians at Antioch had 
become so large that the synagogues were over- 
crowded, and other meeting places had to be 
found. These must have some distinctive name, 
and again a new name, or at least a new mean- 
ing, came into use. These places of assembly 
were called churches. Later this came to in- 
clude the people as well as the building. Thus 
the Christian Church at . Antioch, outside of 
Jerusalem, outside even of Judea, gave to the 
•world these two names, Christian, and Church, 
that have been so universally used in the Chris- 
tian world ever since. 

In this Church at Antioch were many 
strong, earnest Christians. One day as they 
met for religious worship, one may have said: 
"I have a feeling that God wants us to do a 
greater work for Him. We are a strong Church 
now, and could get along by ourselves; but 
think of all the people who do not know that 
Jesus is the Christ; surely they need Saul and 
Barnabas more than we do." 

Another said, "I had the same feeling." 

"Let us ask God about it," still another 
would say. 

As they knelt in prayer, a message came 
from God, saying, "Separate Me Barnabas and 

1 02 



Paul's First Missionary Journey 

Saul for the work whereunto I have called 
them." Just what this work was, perhaps no 
one knew ; but it was God's work, and that was 
enough for Barnabas and Saul. 

Preparations were made for the journey, 
and, taking John Mark with them, they went 
directly to the seaport of Antioch, Seleucia, and 
set sail for Cyprus. Making a tour of the 
island, they came to the capitol, Paphos. Here 
they were invited by the deputy governor, Ser- 
gius Paulus, to preach to him. As they talked, 
he was led to Christ. 

In reading of this incident, for the first time 
we find the name Paul (which was Saul's Ro- 
man or Gentile name) used. Luke says, ^'Saul, 
who is also called Paul," and from this time he 
becomes Paul to every one. 

Leaving Paphos, they crossed to the main- 
land and anchored at Perga in Pamphylia. 
Here, as in every city, they sought the Jewish 
quarters, and were gladly received. On the 
Sabbath day they preached in the synagogue, 
and were invited to come again the following 
Sabbath. Their fame went abroad during the 
week, and when the Sabbath came great crowds, 
both of Christian Jews and of Gentiles, came 
out to hear them. The non-Christian Jews could 
not stand this; a mob was raised, and Barnabas 
and Paul were driven from the city, but not 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

until many had believed and the foundation for 
a Christian Church had been laid. 

John Mark's courage failed; he was afraid 
to go further, and returned to Jerusalem; but 
Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium. Here 
many, both Jews and Gentiles, believed; but 
the city was divided, part following Paul, and 
part following the Jews. The latter made an 
attack on the Christians, intending to stone 
Paul, and again it was necessary for him to flee 
from the city. 

At Lystra a lame man was healed, and the 
people, thinking that Paul was Mercury, and 
Barnabas, Jupiter, would have worshiped them 
if they had not forbidden it. But they were 
followed by Jews from Antioch, who, not sat- 
isfied with driving them from their own cities, 
excited a mob here. This time they succeeded 
in their purpose. They stoned Paul, and left 
him outside the city, supposing him to be dead. 

As his friends stood about him, they saw 
signs of life, and he was soon restored to con- 
sciousness. The next day he and Barnabas went 
to Derbe. They were unmolested here, and, 
after preaching for a time, they retraced their 
steps, visiting and completing the organization 
of the Churches, which, in spite of the persecu- 
tions, they had founded in each place. 

104 



Paul's First Missionary Journey 

When they reached Antioch, every one was 
anxious to know about their journey, and a 
great missionary meeting was held, at which the 
returned missionaries told of their experiences. 

The older disciples in Jerusalem still be- 
lieved that every one must adopt the Jewish 
faith before he could become a Christian. Some 
of these came up to the Church at Antioch, and 
declared that ; on this account, some of the mem- 
bers of the Church were not Christians. 

Paul and Barnabas went down to Jerusalem 
with these Jews to have this matter settled. A 
council was called; the discussion was long and 
heated; Peter and Paul were on opposite sides, 
and were very much in earnest. 

Paul was so sure that Christ intended all, 
whether Jew or Gentile, to be saved, that he 
could not give up. At last his argument pre- 
vailed. 

The council decided that any one who be- 
lieved in Christ might be received into the 
Church, whether he was a Jew or Gentile. This 
discussion was put into writing, and Judas and 
Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas, to read 
it to the Churches, and for the first time the 
Christian Church was opened to all who be- 
lieved in Jesus Christ. 



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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan io. Paul's first missionary journey. 

In following Paul in his missionary jour- 
neys the outline map may, if desired, be drawn 
before the study of the lesson, and the names 
of the places filled in as they are mentioned in 
the study. The outgoing journey may be indi- 
cated by the blue line, and the return by the 
red line, or by the arrows as in Plan io. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. What miracles led to the conversion of 
Sergius Paulus? 

2. Who asked Paul to preach the next Sab- 
bath at Perga? 

3. How many times on his first missionary 
journey was Paul stoned or threatened with 
stoning? 

4. At what place was Barnabas called 
Jupiter, and Paul Mercury? 

5. Name the places visited on this journey. 

HEART TALK. 

A little girl was once asked if she would not 
be afraid to take a long, lonely walk by herself. 
"Why, no," she said, "I will be so interested 
in thinking of helping grandma when I get 
there, I won't think to be afraid." 

106 



Paul's First Missionary Journey 




Plan 10. Paul's First Missionary Journey. 



I07 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

We need never be afraid when we are help- 
ing God or doing His service. We may have 
hard times, or even be in danger, but let us 
think of those who need our help or of what 
we can do for them, and we will not think of 
being afraid. 

PRAYER. 

"Show Thy marvelous loving-kindness, O 
Thou that savest by Thy right hand them that 
take refuge in Thee from those that rise up 
against them." Psa. 17:7. 



108 



CHAPTER XIV. 

PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY. 

ANTIOCH TO ATHENS. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"I can do all things in Him that strength- 
ened me." Phil. 4: 13. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

1. Antioch to Troas. Acts 15: 35, 41; 
16: 1-7. 

2. Called to Macedonia. Acts 16:8-11. 

3. The first convert in Philippi. Acts 16: 
12-15. 

4. The arrest. Acts 16: 16-24. 

5. The earthquake and release. Acts 16: 
24-40. 

6. In Thessalonica. Acts 17:1-9. 

7. In Berea and Athens. Acts 17: 10-33. 

STORY. 

After a short rest in Antioch, Paul and 
Barnabas decided to revisit the Churches they 
had founded. 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Barnabas proposed that they again take 
John Mark with them. "No," said Paul; 
"John deserted us the last time just when we 
needed him most." Barnabas thought he 
should have another trial, but Paul would not 
yield; neither would Barnabas, and they parted 
company. 

Barnabas took John and sailed for Cyprus, 
taking the same route as before. 

Paul invited Silas to be his companion, and 
they started in the opposite direction, intending 
to visit Derbe first, and come back by the way 
of Cyprus. 

See them as they start. Going this way, 
they must travel on foot, or on the backs of 
donkeys. Of course they must have with them 
boxes containing their parchment rolls of the 
Scriptures, cooking utensils, bags containing 
food, leather bottles of water, oil and wine, 
and bundles of extra clothing. Then they will 
need a small tent. All of these they will strap 
on the backs of donkeys. 

They are dressed for a long, hard journey. 
On their feet are strong sandals, for they will 
have some rough walking and climbing to do. 
Their thick walking-sticks and heavy cloaks, 
which must also serve as blankets, complete 
their outfit. 

110 



Paul's Second Missionary Journey 

Leaving Antioch by the northern gate, their 
route led them first through Syria, where Paul 
must stop to encourage the Churches which he 
had founded during his stay in Tarsus. 

Going to the north and then to the west, 
they would pass through many narrow and dan- 
gerous mountain gorges, and swim swollen 
streams, where no bridges were to be found 
and the water was too deep for fording. At 
night the screams of the hyena and the moun- 
tain wolf often kept them awake. 

Reaching Tarsus they stopped a few days; 
and then on across the hot, unhealthy plains, 
and up through the famous Cilician gate in the 
Taurus mountains. A turbulent stream ran 
through this pass, and must be crossed and re- 
crossed. The walls were so high and so steep 
that in many places the sun never reached the 
path. At times the walls were so close together 
that a loaded camel could scarce pass between 
them. In places a slip or misstep, and one 
would be dashed to pieces in the rocky stream 
below. 

This pass was the dread of all travelers, and 
Paul and Silas were not a little glad when the 
road led out into the sunshine on the high table- 
land, where they might rest and cook their 
food. 

Ill 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Descending, they came quickly to Derbe, 
where they read and explained the letter from 
the Jerusalem council. 

On they went to Lystra, only a day's ride 
further. Here Paul met Timothy, and from 
the first he took a strong liking to him. This 
liking grew daily, as he saw the earnestness and 
ability of the young man. Before leaving Lys- 
tra, Timothy was added to the party, and dur- 
ing the rest of Paul's life he was his close com- 
panion, and Paul came to love him and look 
upon him as his son. 

Just a short stop in Iconium, and another in 
Antioch in Pisidia ; the question now was : 
"Where next?" "On into Bithynia,"- said 
Paul; but God spoke to him so plainly saying 
"No," that the three companions turned their 
faces westward toward the sea. 

It was a long journey, over two hundred 
miles, but they pushed on, through Mysia, to 
Troas on the i^gean Sea. 

Here Paul made the acquaintance of an- 
other lifelong friend and companion to be, 
Luke, whom he calls "the beloved physician," 
and who was also his biographer, giving to the 
Bible the life of Paul, in the book of Acts. 
Here, too, Paul saw why God had led him as 
He did, for in the night came the word of com- 
mand again; this time a vision of a man stand- 

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Paul's Second Missionary Journey 

ing beside his bed with outstretched hands, say- 
ing, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." 

In the morning he told Silas, Timothy, and 
Luke of the vision, and they agreed with him 
that God wanted them to carry the Gospel into 
Europe. 

Luke may have been in Macedonia before, 
and, if so, was probably their guide. As soon 
as the wind was favorable they embarked in a 
vessel bound for Philippi, one of the im- 
portant cities of Macedonia, crossed by the 
great Roman road, the famous Ignatian road. 

Philippi was, however, a military rather 
than a trading city, and Paul found but few 
Jews here. Seeking a synagogue in which he 
might speak, he found that there was none, but 
the few Jews in the city held their meetings just 
outside, on the banks of the river. 

When the Sabbath came, these missionaries 
had a strange experience. Going to this place 
of meeting, instead of finding a crowd of Jews 
as they expected, they found just a few women, 
so that the first Christian sermon preached in 
Europe was preached to women, and the first 
convert was a woman, Lydia, a seller of purple 
cloth. 

Lydia had a good home, and she invited 
Paul and his helpers to live there while they 
staid in Philippi. 

8 _ 113 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

But stranger things were yet to happen. A 
poor slave girl in the market place heard Paul, 
believed in his teaching, and followed him. 
Her masters became enraged, and brought 
charges against Paul and Silas. Without a 
trial they were beaten, cast into prison, and 
made fast in the stocks. But wherever there 
were hearers to be found, Paul and Silas were 
ready to preach Jesus, and in this strange place 
at midnight, with never a word of complaint, 
these two brave men prayed and sung hymns of 
praise to God. Can one wonder that the pris- 
oners listened and believed? Then, in the 
words of the Bible, "Suddenly there was a great 
earthquake so that the foundations of the prison 
house were shaken: and immediately all the 
doors were opened; and every one's bands were 
loosed." 

The keeper of the prison came running in 
alarm. It was certain death for him should 
the prisoners escape, as they surely would, and 
quite without hope, he was ready to kill himself, 
when he heard the voice of Paul saying, "Do 
thyself no harm; for we are all here." 

Such unselfish love, on the part of one who 
had been beaten and imprisoned wrongly, was 
a new religion to the keeper, and he threw him- 
self at Paul's feet, crying, "What must I do to 

114 



Paul's Second Missionary Journey- 
be saved?" Before the morning he and his 
family had accepted Christ, and gladly did all 
that they could for the prisoners. 

When the magistrates learned that their 
prisoners were Roman citizens they were fright- 
ened, and, after apologizing, begged them to 
leave Philippi. 

As soon as they were able to travel they 
went to Thessalonica. Here Paul preached and 
taught both by his words and his life. While 
here, his friends at Philippi sent him gifts of 
food, clothing, and money, which were a great 
help to him. 

Many more people came to hear him here 
than at Philippi, but this brought trouble. The 
Jews became jealous, and Paul and Silas were 
hidden to save their lives, and that night es- 
caped from the city and went to Berea. 

The Jews here "were more noble than those 
of Thessalonica," for they studied the Scrip- 
tures to prove whether Paul- was right or no ; 
but the Jews of Thessalonica followed the mis- 
sionaries, determined to make trouble. 

As soon as this was known, Paul was sent 
on to Athens, where he was to wait for Silas 
and Timothy; Luke had remained in Philippi 
to help the Churches there. 



"5 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan ii. Paul's second missionary journey. 

In this lesson the journey of Paul will be 
traced from Antioch to Athens, coming to the 
cities of the first journey in the opposite direc- 
tion. Troas, Philippi, and Thessalonica will 
furnish very interesting topics for home study. 
Compare this map with a map of Southern 
Europe and Western Asia, that the Juniors may 
get a more correct idea of the location of the 
country. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. Of what nationality were Timothy's 
parents? 

2. What books in the Bible did Luke write? 

3. How many cities did Paul visit between 
Troas and Berea? 

4. In what way did the conversion of the 
slave girl in Philippi cause trouble? 

5. Of what advantage was Roman citizen- 
ship at this time? 

HEART TALK. 

Here we find Paul tested by separation from 
his friend, by a long dangerous journey, by a 
change of plan, by small audiences, by beating 
and imprisonment, by loneliness, by success, 

n6 



Paul's Second Missionary Journey 




"7 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

and yet we find him undaunted, faithful, ready 
to embrace every opportunity to do God's work. 

Why? He tells us in his letter to the 
Philippians. "I can do all things," not because 
I am strong, or learned, or powerful, but be- 
cause God is all of these. 

We, too, may say with Paul, "I can do 
anything that God wants me to, through Christ, 
who gives me the strength." 

PRAYER. 

"We . . . do not cease to pray . . . for you, 
that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His 
will . . . strengthened with all power, according 
to the might of His glory, unto all patience 
and long-suffering." Col. 1:9, 10, 11. 



118 



CHAPTER XV. 

PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY. 

ATHENS TO SYRIA. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in 
everything give thanks: for this is the will of 
God in Christ Jesus to you-ward." i Thess. 
5: 16-18. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. At Athens. Acts 17: 15-33. 

2. At Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila. Acts 
18 : 1-4. 

3. Timothy sent to Thessalonica. 1 Thess. 
3 : 1-10; Acts 18 : 5. 

4. The first letter of Paul. 1 Thess. chap- 
ter 1. 

5. The second letter of Paul. 2 Thess. 
chapter 2. 

6. Preaching at Corinth. Acts 18: 5-17. 

7. Return to Syria. Acts 18: 18-23. 

119 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

STORY. 

For several weeks Paul was alone in the 
great city of Athens. He had never seen a city 
like it, and he was much interested; but he was 
lonely and not happy. How could he be happy 
in that great city of idols and idol temples, a 
city where they did not know God? 

He had not come here to preach, but to wait 
for his companions. Still one may be sure that 
the first Sabbath found him in the synagogue 
preaching Christ, and during the week he 
taught in the market-places or wherever he 
could get any one to listen to him. Soon this 
brown-cloaked Jew came to be a familiar figure 
about the booths and stalls of the business 
streets. 

After several weeks Timothy and Silas 
came, but their report was discouraging. Silas 
had come directly from Berea, and said it still 
was not safe for Paul to return. Timothy had 
been back to Thessalonica and found that the 
Christians were being persecuted by the Jews 
and needed help. Luke was still in Philippi. 

After talking over the situation, it was 
thought best for Paul to remain at Athens for 
a time, while Timothy returned to Thessa- 
lonica. It is not known whether Silas returned 
to Berea or remained with Paul. 

Before he left Athens, Paul was asked to 
1 20 



Paul's Second Missionary Journey 

speak before the Stoics and Epicureans, the 
learned philosophers, in their famous painted 
porch, called the Areopagus. We are not 
told that he was able to persuade any of them 
to believe in Christ, though his sermon that day 
was one of his masterpieces. 

From Athens he went to Corinth; here he 
remained preaching, teaching, and working at 
his trade for eighteen months. Here he met 
Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish Christians from 
Rome, who were also tent-makers, and with 
whom probably he entered into partnership. 

While in Corinth he was rejoined by Tim- 
othy and Silas. They report that the Churches 
are progressing, but also tell him that the 
Church at Thessalonica is still being persecuted, 
and that some are becoming discouraged be- 
cause Christ had not come back. 

Paul could not go to them to help them, 
but he wrote them two letters. His first letter 
to the Thessalonians is probably the oldest book 
in the New Testament; that is, it was written 
first, and may have been sent from one Church 
to another for reading. 

One can imagine what the writing of that 
letter must have meant. First, the long scroll 
of papyrus must be secured and the reed pen. 
Timothy, thus armed, and with a bottle of 
liquid soot fastened to his girdle, seats himself 

121 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

and writes the words as Paul dictates them. 
It is slow work, and it must be done between 
the hours of working and teaching or preach- 
ing. The first letter is really a letter of com- 
fort to the people, and its keynote is hope. 

The second letter was written not many 
months later, while Paul was still in Corinth, 
because he learned that some people had stopped 
working, and were idling away their time wait- 
ing for the second coming of Christ. Paul re- 
minds them of his own example, and how he 
worked constantly, even though he, like the 
other apostles, believed that the time of the 
coming of Christ was not far distant. 

This Church at Thessalonica is one of great 
interest, for from it, in the third century, two 
of the earliest missionaries were sent out to the 
Bohemians and Moravians. 

Paul found the Jews of Corinth hard to 
influence; but he was not discouraged, and con- 
tinued preaching day after day, and his work 
was very successful. 

From Corinth Paul returns to Syria, accom- 
panied by Priscilla and Aquila, stopping for a 
brief time at Ephesus, and going thence to 
Caesarea and Antioch. •> 



122 



Paul's Second Missionary Journey 
CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 1 1 will be completed in this lesson, 
tracing the journey from Athens to Corinth, 
pausing for a short lecture by the Juniors on 
each of these cities; thence to Ephesus with an- 
other lecture; on past Rhodes, and direct to 
Caesarea; thence to Antioch, though, in all prob- 
ability, Paul visited Jerusalem before going to 
Antioch. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. What two people are mentioned among 
"those who believed" at Athens? 

2. What two are especially mentioned at 
Corinth? 

3. Who was the Roman proconsul who 
protected Paul in Corinth? 

4. In whose names were both letters to the 
Thessalonians written ? 

5. What do you think Paul means by 
2 Thess. 3:17? 

HEART TALK. 

Paul, writing to the Christians of Thessa- 
lonica, to comfort them in time of persecution, 
says to them, "Rejoice always." 

This may have seemed a strange message, 
but Paul knew what he was talking about. He, 
too, had been persecuted, and he knew, first, 
that the way to keep up one's courage was to be 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

joyful, no matter what came. Then, too, he 
knew that this was possible; that God could 
keep one joyful under any circumstances. 

Let us learn to rejoice when things do not 
go our way, and when everything seems hard 
to bear, just as much as when everything is 
pleasant, for "The joy of the Lord is our 
strength." 

PRAYER. 

"O satisfy us in the morning with Thy lov- 
ing kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad 
all our days." Psa. 90: 14. 



124 



CHAPTER XVI. 

PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY. 

FROM ANTIOCH TO EPHESUS. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Upon the first day of the week let each 
one of you lay by him in store as he may 
prosper." i Cor. 16:2. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

1. The first stage of the journey. Acts 18 : 
22, 23. 

2. A journey of warning against false 
teachers. Gal. 1:6-10. 

3. The twofold mission of this journey. 
Gal. 2 : 1-10. 

4. The method of carrying out their pur- 
pose. 1 Cor. 16 : 1-4. 

5. Paul's assistants in securing the offerings. 
Acts 20:4; 2 Cor. 8:1-15. 

6. Paul's companion. 1 Cor. 4: 17. 

7. Apollos. Acts 18:24-28. 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
STORY. 

At Antioch Paul learned more definitely of 
the false teachers whom the Jews were sending 
out, and who, claiming to be followers of 
Christ, taught that Paul had been a false 
teacher, and that no one was a Christian who 
was not first a Jew. 

The Churches everywhere were troubled, 
and many Christians were being led away. 
Again Paul starts out to strengthen their faith, 
and he visits in order the Churches which he 
had founded throughout Phrygia and Galatia; 
but he could not pass by the Cilician Churches 
on the way, without stopping long enough to 
give new courage to the faithful in each. 

His journey had a twofold mission this time. 
To-day the home Churches take offerings and 
send to help the work among the heathen na- 
tions, but in Paul's day the Gentile or heathen 
Christians were the ones who had money. 

The Church in Judea was in need, and Paul 
was instructed to arrange for an offering to be 
taken in each of the Churches which he visited. 
Every Church was to appoint some one to go 
with Paul, on his return trip, and carry this 
money to Jerusalem. His great work, how- 
ever, was to counteract the influence of the 
Jewish teachers by preaching Christ. 

Just who Paul had for a traveling compan- 
126 



Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

ion on this trip is not known. It is probable, 
however, that Silas returned to Jerusalem and 
that Timothy remained with Paul. Other 
friends joined them from time to time. 

While Paul was in Antioch, Aquila and 
Priscilla remained in Ephesus. One day a new 
teacher appeared in Ephesus. He was a very 
learned man, a Jew from Alexandria, whose 
name was Apollos. Aquila and Priscilla went 
to hear him. What was their amazement to 
find him teaching the words of John the Bap- 
tist, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at 
hand," and telling of the Messiah that was to 
come! 

Listening to his burning words, they were 
convinced that he was sincere. At the close of 
the sermon they went to him and told him that 
he had just the beginning, that that Gospel had 
been fulfilled. He at once became their pupil ; 
and they taught him "Jesus Christ," just as 
they had learned Him from Paul. 

One can imagine the eagerness with which 
Apollos would listen to this new Gospel, and 
the great earnestness with which he began to 
teach and preach Christ. 

The Church at Corinth needed help, and 
just before Paul reached Ephesus, Apollos went 
to Corinth, and so did not meet Paul until some 
time later. 

127 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

When Paul and Timothy reached Ephesus, 
they were warmly welcomed by Aquila and Pris- 
cilla, with whom Paul probably went into part- 
nership again, and by the Church there. 

Some of Paul's companions continued the 
journey at once, in order to make arrangements 
for the offerings in the different Churches be- 
fore Paul arrived. 

PENCIL AND CRAYON. 

Plan 12. Paul's third missionary journey. 

Again Paul takes the overland route, revis- 
iting the Churches at Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, 
Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia; then up into Ga- 
latia, through Phrygia, and down to Ephesus, 
where he makes his long stay. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. What were some of the places Paul 
would have visited before reaching Ephesus? 

2. Which of these Churches would be of 
special interest to Timothy? 

3. In how many of them had Paul been per- 
secuted? 

4. Why was Paul going to Ephesus? 

5. How long did Paul remain in Ephesus? 



128 



Paul's Third Missionary Journey 




129 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

HEART TALK. 

One of the strongest indications of a true 
love for Christ is a desire to help some one else 
and a liberality in giving to those in need. 

The generous response to their call for help 
for the Church in Jerusalem, must have been 
very gratifying to Paul ; but he knew that many 
people would give if their sympathies were 
aroused, and that would be the end of it. Or 
they would intend to give, and then forget all 
about it, or use all their money for some other 
purpose; so he gave them a rule for giving, 
because he knew that unless they were doing 
something for God there was great danger of 
their forgetting Him. 

We have that rule in our memory verse, 
and it is one of the rules that is just as good 
as when Paul gave it. Have you tried it? 
Do not wait. Begin to-day 

PRAYER. 

"Save Thy people, and bless Thine inherit- 
ance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them 
up forever." Psa. 28:9. 



130 



CHAPTER XVII. 

PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY. 

EPHESUS TO PHILIPPE 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you 
like men, be strong." i Cor. 16: 13. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. Teaching in Ephesus. Acts 19: 1-8. 

2. Teaching in the school of Tyrannus. 
Acts 19 : 9, 10. 

3. Proof of apostleship. Acts 19: 11-19. 
Brief visit to Corinth. 2 Cor. 12: 21; 13: 1. 
Timothy sent to Macedonia. Acts 19: 21, 22. 

4. First letter to the Corinthians. 1 Cor. 
1 : 1- 1 1. 

5. Exhortation to unity. 1 Cor. 3:8, 9. 

6. The riot at Ephesus. Acts 19: 23-41. 

7. Paul at Troas. 2 Cor. 2: 12. 

STORY. 

The teaching of Apollos had left an open 
door for Paul at Ephesus. When he came 

131 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

among the believers, his first question was, 
"Have you received the Holy Spirit since you 
believed?" They did not know what he meant; 
but when he had preached "Jesus Christ" to 
them, they gladly believed in Him, and God 
sent His Holy Spirit upon them as He had 
upon the disciples at Pentecost. 

For three months Paul preached in the 
synagogue, but the unbelieving Jews tried to 
turn the people away from his teaching. Then 
he left the synagogue, and, taking his followers 
with him, entered the school of Tyrannus, where 
he taught for two years, and gathered many 
disciples about him. 

Ephesus was a city of idol-worshipers and 
magicians' without number. Something that 
would break the superstitious faith of the people 
in these magicians was necessary, and God per- 
formed many wonderful miracles by the hands 
of Paul. 

Certain magicians thought that they, too, 
would drive out evil spirits in the name of 
Christ, even as Paul did; again God manifested 
His power in such a way that even the magicians 
believed. So great was the fame of these mir- 
acles that many people brought their books of 
magic to Paul, who built a bonfire of them in 
the streets of Ephesus. 

Paul probably paid a short visit to Corinth, 
132 



Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

and later wrote them a letter which has been 
lost. About this time Paul planned to go into 
Macedonia, but the interest in his teaching was 
so widespread he could not leave Ephesus, so 
he sent Timothy. 

Christians coming from Corinth brought 
bad news of the Church there. The people 
were forgetting Christ and dividing themselves 
into parties, some saying that they were follow- 
ers of Paul, some of Apollos, and some of other 
leaders. This, of course, was making trouble 
in the Church. Then, too, Corinth was a very 
wicked city, and some people who had come 
into the Church had gone back to their wicked 
ways, though still holding membership in the 
Church. 

Paul was much distressed. He could not 
go to them just then, so he wrote a letter, which 
is known as the First Letter to the Corinthians, 
and sent it by Titus, bidding him bring back 
word just how he found things in the Church. 

In Ephesus was the great temple of the god- 
dess Diana, and the making and selling of silver 
and copper images of Diana was a very profit- 
able line of business. 

As the influence of Paul increased, the mer- 
chants began to fear for their trade, and one 
named Demetrius went about the city promoting 
this feeling till he succeeded in raising a riot. 

133 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

The mob gathered in the great theater of the 
city, some not even knowing what they were 
there for, and all shouting, "Great is Diana of 
the Ephesians ! Great is Diana of the Ephe- 
sians!" until tumult and din filled the city. 

Paul would have gone to them, but his 
friends would not let him, and, finding no new 
excitement, the fury of the mob finally died 
down, and they were dispersed by the town 
clerk; however, it was not thought safe for Paul 
to stay longer in the city, so he went to Troas, 
where he was to meet Titus, with the news from 
Corinth. 

These were trying days for Paul. In writ- 
ing of them later, he said, "I had no relief *in 
my spirit because I found not Titus my 
brother." Titus was delayed; Paul was sick 
and depressed, but he says, "A door was opened 
unto me," and he was eager as ever to enter. 
He founded a Church here, which he was un- 
able to do on his former visit, and then went 
on into Macedonia, landing at Necropolis and 
going at once to Philippi, where his heart was 
rejoiced by the warm welcome of the Church, 
which had always been true to him. He was 
further relieved by the coming of Titus with 
good news from the Church in Corinth. 



134 



Paul's Third Missionary Journey 
CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 1 2 will be continued in this lesson. Un- 
less the places are first located on the map, as in 
previous plan, there may be difficulty in follow- 
ing the route of Paul. Let the line indicating 
the journey be drawn from point to point as 
the story develops. Starting from Ephesus he 
goes north to Troas; thence to Necropolis, and 
on to Philippi. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. How many people were in the company 
on whom the Holy Spirit descended at Ephesus ? 

2. What were some of the miracles worked 
by Paul at Ephesus? 

3. What other apostle performed similar 
miracles? 

4. To what great city. does Paul speak of 
going? 

5. Who were with Paul at Ephesus? 

HEART TALK. 

People may be very good, they may do the 
best they know how, but unless they belong to 
Christ and have His Spirit in their hearts, the 
most important thing is lacking. The people 
at Ephesus who responded to the preaching of 
Apollos did not know there was anything bet- 

135 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

ter, but we have no such excuse to-day. The 
man or woman, boy or girl, who says, "I can 
be just as good without belonging to Christ," 
is making a great mistake. The person who 
tells you that any other religion except the re- 
ligion of Jesus Christ, which gives you the Holy 
Spirit to guide and direct you, will do, is wrong; 
for nothing but God's Spirit can enable us to 
stand fast and be strong. Watch, and keep 
close to Him. 

PRAYER. 

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the 
Father, . . . that He would grant you, according 
to the riches of His glory, that you may be 
strengthened with power through His Spirit." 
Eph. 3: 14-16. 



136 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY. 

PHILIPPI TO JERUSALEM. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"The Spirit Himself beareth witness with 
our spirit that we are the children of God; and 
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- 
heirs with Christ" Rom. 8: 16, 17. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. The arrival of Titus. 2 Cor. 7:6, 7. 

2. Second Epistle to the Corinthians. 2 
Cor. chapter 13. 

3. Mission of Titus. 2 Cor. 8:22-24; 9: 
1-12. 

4. Corinth. Acts 20: 1-3. 

5. Letter to the Galatians. Gal. 1:6-10; 

3- i-9- 

6. Phoebe. Rom. 16: 1, 2. 

7. Letter to the Romans. Rom. 1 : 1-8. 
Return Journey. Acts 20:3-38. 

137 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

STORY. 

Paul was greatly relieved by the report of 
Titus, even though there was a small party in 
the Church at Corinth who were bitterly op- 
posing him. 

He directed Titus to return at once in order 
that he might take charge of the offering to be 
sent to Jerusalem. He wrote and sent by him 
the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. This 
letter was full of love and encouragement to 
those who had listened to his former letter and 
obeyed it, but very severe and full of warnings 
toward those who were opposing him. 

Leaving Philippi, Paul travels through 
Macedonia, preaching and bringing before the 
Churches the need of the Church in Judea, 
holding before them the love of Christ as their 
motive for giving. Probably he visited the 
Churches of Thessalonica and Berea, thence 
traveling South, and reaching Corinth in the 
early winter. 

Here the false teachers from among the 
Jews were again gaining a strong influence over 
the Christians, and he felt that severe measures 
must be used to hold the Church true to Christ. 
That he was very successful in overthrowing 
these teachers and their influence, we learn from 
writers outside the Bible. 

138 



Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

While in Corinth he met with another dis- 
appointment. Word came that these same 
teachers were disturbing the Churches in Ga- 
latia, and leading them away from his teaching. 

It was nearly time for him to go back to 
Jerusalem. He could not visit them, but wrote 
the Epistle to the Galatians, which was to be 
read in all the Churches. This letter shows a 
feeling of sadness and pained surprise, for the 
Galatian Christians were very largely Gentiles, 
and he had not expected them to be influenced 
by the Jews. He tries in his Epistle to prove 
to them that these Jews would destroy the very 
foundations of Christianity, and also contradicts 
certain falsehoods that have been told about 
himself. 

Learning that Phoebe, one of the Corinthian 
converts, was about to go to Rome, Paul took 
the opportunity of sending a letter by her to 
the Christians in Rome. This is Paul's intro- 
duction to the Church at Rome. In it we 
become acquainted with Paul, with his religious 
thinking, his beliefs, and his spiritual life. It 
sums up all of the writings of all his other 
books. It is the greatest of all his letters. 

Paul had intended to go directly to Syria 
as soon as the spring opened; but a plot to take 
his life was discovered, and he turns back into 
Macedonia. Those who had aided him in col- 

139 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

lecting the offerings from the Churches went 
to Troas, where they waited for Paul and Luke. 

The trip through Macedonia was a rapid 
one, but he could hardly have passed by the 
Churches, which he never hoped to see again, 
without a short stay to encourage them and 
strengthen their faith. 

He spent the Passover with his beloved 
Philippians, and did not leave Philippi till the 
Passover week was ended. Paul had planned 
to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, 
and no time was to be lost. 

Unfavorable winds delayed them, but after 
five days the port was gained. Reaching Troas, 
they tarried here seven days, holding, on the 
last night, an all-night meeting, marked by the 
falling of the young man from the window 
and his restoration to life. 

Sailing from Assos, where Paul joined his 
companions, they find favoring winds, and come 
to Miletus. As the ship must stop several days 
here, Paul sends for the elders of. the Church 
at Ephesus, and has a farewell service with 
them. The Holy Spirit had made known to 
Paul that the end of his work was approach- 
ing, and that this might be the last service with 
these dear friends. We are told that they went 
with him to his ship, where they wept as they 

140 



Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

bade him farewell, "sorrowing most of all for 
the word which he had spoken, that they should 
behold his face no more." 

At Patara a change is made to a vessel sail- 
ing for Phoenicia. A stop of seven days is made 
in Tyre; then on past Ptolemais to Caesarea, 
where they are entertained in the home of 
Philip the Evangelist and his four daughters, 
who are prophetesses. 

While here Paul is warned that bonds and 
imprisonment await him in Jerusalem, and he is 
urged not to go. But he feels that God has 
something for him to do there; so, arranging 
about his baggage, he pushes on. 

Reaching Jerusalem he was warmly wel- 
comed by the disciples, who listened eagerly to 
all he had to tell them of his work among the 
Gentiles. 

After hearing this story they warned him 
of danger. They told him of the falsehood 
that had been spread among the believing Jews : 
that Paul had forsaken the Jewish faith, and 
urged him to publicly conform to one of their 
customs that the accusation might be disproved. 
This Paul gladly did, for he had never left the 
faith of his fathers, though he knew that, de- 
spite these things, bonds and imprisonment 
awaited him. 

141 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

The suggestions given in the previous les- 
sons will be followed out in completing Plan 12. 

Leaving Philippi, Paul probably passes 
through Thessalonica, Berea, and south to Cor- 
inth. Leaving Corinth by water he goes back 
to Macedonia, where he makes a rapid trip, and 
thence to Philippi. Sailing from here he 
touches at Troas, Assos, Miletus, Patara, Tyre, 
on past Ptolemais to Caesarea, and thence to 
Jerusalem. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. Why was Titus sent back to Corinth 
the first time? The second? 

2. How many trips did Paul make into 
Macedonia on this journey? 

3. How long a time did Paul spend in 
Macedonia? 

4. Where do we find out anything about 
this part of the trip? 

5. To whom was II Corinthians written be- 
sides the Church at Corinth? 

HEART TALK. 

It must have been very hard for these early 
Christians, before the New Testament was 
written, to know which teachers were right. 
When Paul was with them they believed in the 

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Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

gospel which he preached; but when he was 
gone, and the false teachers told them that Paul 
was a deceiver, they hardly knew whom to 
believe. 

Paul told them of a way to prove this. He 
said God's Spirit in their hearts would bear 
witness with their spirits. He could not tell 
them just how this would be done, but he said 
they would know in their hearts that they were 
God's children. 

This is true now. We do not have to be 
uncertain about it. If we are God's children, 
God's Spirit in our hearts makes us perfectly 
sure of it. 

PRAYER. 

"Our Father who art in heaven, 
Hallowed be Thy name." Matt. 6 : 9. 



H3 



CHAPTER XIX. 
PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things 
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall 
be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Rom. 8 : 
38,39- 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. A plan to conciliate the Jews. Acts 21 : 
20-26. 

2. Mobbed in the temple, and rescued by 
the chief captain. Acts 21 : 27-40. 

3. Paul's defense. Acts 22: 1-21. 

4. Saved by his Roman citizenship. Acts 
22 : 22-29. 

5. Sent to Caesarea. Acts 23: 12-35. 

6. Imprisonment in Caesarea. Acts, chap. 

24- 

7. Trial before Festus; appeal to Caesar, 
Acts 25: 1-12. 

, H4 



Paul's Imprisonment 
STORY. 

"Thou teachest all the Jews who are among 
the Gentiles to forsake Moses," was the claim 
made against Paul by the thousands of Jews in 
Jerusalem. 

To disarm this prejudice the apostles sug- 
gested that Paul conform to an ancient and 
well-known custom of Moses, and pay the ex- 
penses of four young men who had taken a 
vow. This would bring him into public notice, 
not in opposition to, but in the observance of 
the Mosaic custom. 

But the disciples had not realized the depth 
of the hatred against Paul. While in the act 
of performing this service in the temple, he was 
seized, dragged outside the court, and the great 
gates closed that the sacred inclosure might not 
be polluted. He w T ould undoubtedly have been 
killed in a few moments, but word reached the 
chief captain of the Roman guard, and immedi- 
ately from the Tower of Antonio, close at hand, 
marched a company of soldiers. The chief cap- 
tain himself seized Paul and commanded him 
to be bound. 

So great was the fury of the mob that the 
soldiers were obliged to lift and carry him to 
keep him out of its hands. As they reached 
the steps of the tower of the prison, Paul asked 
to be allowed to speak. Something in his man- 

145 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

ner silenced the crowd, and they listened silently 
as he reviewed his life until he came to the point 
where he said that God said to him, "Depart; 
for I will send thee far hence unto the Gen- 
tiles." Then the tumult rose again, and they 
would have seized him, but the chief captain 
commanded that he be taken into the prison. 
When this officer learned that Paul was a 
Roman citizen, he treated him with the utmost 
kindness. 

Paul's first trial was before the Sanhedrin; 
a second hearing was called for, but Paul's 
nephew learned that the object of this was that 
they might seize and kill him between the tower 
and the council hall. 

He went at once to Paul with the informa- 
tion, and Paul sent him to the chief captain. 
The case was serious, and that night the chief 
captain sent him secretly to Caesarea, to Felix 
the governor. 

For two years Felix put off rendering a 
decision, and during all this time Paul was kept 
a prisoner. At the end of two years Felix was 
succeeded by Festus; but thinking to gain the 
good will of the Jews, he left Paul in prison. 

Soon after his appointment Festus visited 
Jerusalem, and the Jews asked as a favor to 
have Paul brought to Jerusalem and tried there, 
thinking to kill him before he reached Jerusa- 

146 



Paul's Imprisonment 

lem. Whether Festus suspected their plot or 
not, is not known, but he outwitted them by 
fixing the place of the trial in Caesarea. 

The trial was called; but Paul was tired of 
waiting for a verdict, and, thinking that Festus 
was going to follow the plan of Felix, he ap- 
pealed to Caesar. This took the matter entirely 
out of the power of Festus. The right of ap- 
peal to Caesar was one of the great privileges 
of a Roman citizen. 

Paul, however, had probably misjudged Fes^ 
tus, who was a very different type of man from 
Felix. Festus commanded that Paul be re- 
turned to the prison while arrangements were 
being made to send him to Rome. Before these 
arrangements were completed, King Agrippa 
visited Caesarea, and Festus told him about his 
prisoner, and that there was really no charge 
to be made against Paul that would justify him 
in sending him to Caesar. He was puzzled 
about the matter, and asked Agrippa to exam- 
ine Paul himself. 

Paul is brought before Agrippa and Festus. 
He again reviews the events of his life, and 
tells of his special call to the work of preach- 
ing Christ to the Gentiles. 

Agrippa was much impressed with Paul's 
message, and when they had withdrawn he said 
to Festus: "This man doeth nothing worthy of 

147 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

death or bonds. He might have been set at 
liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar." 

Was Paul sorry that he had made his ap- 
peal to Caesar? He would not have done so 
had he not felt that it was God's plan for him. 
One night, in the prison back in Jerusalem, God 
had come to him in a dream and said to him, 
"Be of good cheer, for as thou has testified con- 
cerning Me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear 
witness also at Rome," and Paul felt that the 
appeal to Caesar was God's plan for sending him 
to the great capital, which he had long wished 
to visit. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 13. The Arrest and Imprisonment of 
Paul. 

Again we come to the plan of the temple. 
The Tower of Antonio, the steps from which 
Paul made his address, and the council chamber 
of the Sanhedrin, are the places of special in- 
terest in Plan 13. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. What was the accusation of the Jews 
against Paul? 

2. Before how many people was he tried? 

3. In how many places was he imprisoned? 
4., How many plots were formed to kill 

him? 

148 



Paul's Imprisonment 



T/re lower o-P Anton.,' o 



GATE 




COURT 

of tke 

"id 
WOME.N B) 



COURT oftkaGENTILES 



Cou l\T 



H EHOD 



Plan 13. The Arrest and Imprisonment of Paul. 

5. What did Agrippa say after hearing 
him? 

HEART TALK. 

Paul's faith must have been sorely tested. 
He had obeyed God, and yet for that obedience 
his life was in danger. Even harder than the 

149 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

danger was the monotony of the imprisonment 
year after year, but through it all his courage 
does not waver or his faith falter. 

God's message to him was, "Be of good 
courage," and he knows, whatever trial comes, 
God is with him. 

The trials that come to us, though very dif- 
ferent from Paul's, are just as hard to bear; 
but God says, "Be of good courage." There 
is no trial small enough or great enough to 
separate us from God. 

PRAYER. 

"Give ear to my prayer. . . . Let my sentence 
come forth from Thy presence." Psa. 17 : 1, 2. 



150 



CHAPTER XX. 
A NOTABLE VOYAGE. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength 
of His might." Eph. 6: 10. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. The voyage begun. Acts 27: 1-6. 

2. Contrary winds. Acts 27:7, 8. 

3. Paul's advice. Acts 27:9-11. 

4. Preparing ior the storm. Acts 27 : 
11-17. 

5. Paul's review of his dangers. 2 Cor. 
•1 1 : 24-27. 

6. Paul's estimate of his trials. Phil. 1 : 
12, 13. 

7. Paul's confidence in God. 2 Tim. 1 : 
12-17. 

STORY. 

The voyage from Caesarea to Rome was not 
easily made in the days of Paul. Passenger 
vessels were unknown; but had an onlooker 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

been at the wharf in Caesarea one morning of 
the late summer, A. D. 60, he might have seen 
a company of guards escorting several prisoners 
to a trading vessel bound for Adramyttium in 
Asia Minor. 

Each soldier was chained by the wrist to his 
especial guard, whose life was pledged to the 
safe conduct of that prisoner, until he had de- 
livered him in Rome. 

Among the prisoners on this morning is the 
brown-robed Jew, who has been seen in Caesarea 
many times before. With him is Aristarchus, 
a fellow Christian from Thessalonica, who 
probably is also chained to a guard. Luke, too, 
the beloved physician, is with Paul in his hour 
of need. In order that the prisoners may be 
doubly guarded, they are accompanied by the 
centurion, Julius, who is in charge of the com- 
pany. 

Sailing from Caesarea, they touch the next 
day at Sidon. Julius shows his kindly feeling 
for Paul, by allowing him to visit his friends 
while the vessel is anchored here. 

Leaving Sidon, the winds proved contrary, 
and, instead of taking the direct route south of 
the island of Cyprus, they were obliged to take 
the northern route, along the coast of Pam- 
phylia and Cilicia, following the same course 

152 



A Notable Voyage 

that Paul had gone over on his first journey 
with Barnabas, and on the return voyage of his 
third journey. 

Landing at Myra, the centurion was fortu- 
nate in finding, as had been anticipated, a ves- 
sel, probably a corn-ship from Alexandria, 
bound for Italy. Passage was easily secured 
for the prisoners and their companions. 

Unfavorable winds attended them from the 
time they sailed from Myra; after many days 
they reached Cnidus, and, the winds still being 
contrary, they decided to veer from the usual 
route, and take advantage of the shelter fur- 
nished by the island of Crete. This proved an 
unwise decision; still, after many difficulties, 
they were able to make the harbor of Fair 
Havens. Here they were delayed for some 
time, and before they were ready to sail it was 
the last of September or the first of October; 
the season of storms was at hand, when it was 
considered unwise to venture into the open sea. 

Paul advised them to winter at Fair Ha- 
vens, and continue the voyage in the early 
spring. He warned them that they would meet 
with great losses if they went on. But Paul 
was only a prisoner, and the owner of the ves- 
sel did not like the idea of losing so much time; 
then, too, the harbor was not a very good one 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

in which to winter; the majority, who were in 
favor of going on, ruled the day. 

With the first favoring wind they sailed, 
hoping to reach Phoenix before the winter 
storms really set in. 

Rounding Cape Matala, Phoenix was but 
thirty-five miles distant. Hugging the coast of 
Crete, they expected to reach the harbor before 
another day passed, but the favoring gale was 
deceptive. The wind suddenly veered to the 
north, and, with the fury of a hurricane, struck 
the vessel, driving it from its course. 

Driven near the island of Cauda, they were 
somewhat sheltered for a short time. The cap- 
tain took advantage of this to hoist the lifeboat 
on board. This would not be an easy matter, 
for in such a storm the boat would already be 
full of water; but with difficulty it was accom- 
plished. 

While this was being done, others of the 
crew were undergirding the vessel ; that is, pass- 
ing ropes round it and securing these firmly on 
deck. This was done, lest, in the tossing of the 
waves, the framework of the vessel should 
spring, and cause a leak. 

Still others lowered the gearing. Every- 
thing was now in the best possible shape for 
weathering a long storm, but the danger was 
great. The season of severest tempests was 

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A Notable Voyage 







Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

upon them, and the ships of those days were 
not so built, as to be able to withstand heavy 
storms. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 14. The voyage to Rome. 

The Bible Picture, as well as the Story, 
mark the route of this notable voyage of Paul 
so carefully that it will be easily followed. 
Chapter 20 carries the vessel as far as the island 
of Cauda. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Where is Aristarchus first mentioned? , 

2. Trace the journey of Paul from Caesarea 
to Myra. 

3. Trace the journey from Malta to Rome. 

4. How may one know at what time of 
year the vessel was ready to leave Fair Havens? 

5. What was Paul's warning? 

HEART TALK. 

Paul might well be discouraged. After his 
two years imprisonment in Caesarea, when lib- 
erty seemed almost in sight, this new danger 
arose. Had God forgotten him? Was this 
the way Paul felt? No, indeed; for he says, 
"I have learned in whatsoever state T am, 
therein to be content," and that while "To 
live is Christ, to die is great gain." 

156 



A Notable Voyage 

Is it not worth while to live so close to 
Christ that we know that whatever comes it is 
all right, and to know this so surely that we 
need not worry or be anxious about anything? 

PRAYER. 

"Withhold not Thy tender mercies from me, 
O Jehovah. Let Thy lovingkindness and Thy 
truth continually preserve me, for innumerable 
evils have compassed me about." Psa. 40: 
11, 12. 



157 



CHAPTER XXI. 
THE SHIPWRECK. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

''''And we know that to them that love God 
all things work together for good, even to 
them that are called according to His purpose." 
Rom. 8: 28. 

bible picture. 

1. The increasing storm. Acts 27: 18-20. 

2. Paul's message. Acts 27: 21-26. 

3. Paul's encouragement. Acts 27:27-38. 

4. The shipwreck. Acts 27:39-41. 

5. The escape. Acts 27:41-44. 

6. Another shipwreck. Jonah 1: 1-16. 

7. God's care for His messenger. Jonah, 
chapter 2. 

STORY. 

The violence of the storm continued, and on 
the day after leaving Cauda, they lightened the 
ship by throwing overboard the freight. The 
third day the danger increased, and to make 
her still lighter, the tackling was thrown over- 

158 



« 



The Shipwreck 

board. This would indicate that the under- 
girding had not been successful, and that the 
ship had sprung a leak. 

The gale continued day after day. The 
exceeding darkness of the night was followed 
by the dull gloom of the day. Neither sun, 
moon, nor stars appeared, which meant that no 
observations could be taken, and it was as 
though the boat was utterly lost in the midst 
of a great sea. At any moment she might be 
driven on a rock and dashed to pieces. Anxiety 
gave place to fear, which soon became terror, 
and all hope of being saved was given up. 

What of Paul and his companions? It can 
readily be understood that they had taken an 
active, part in everything that was being done 
to increase the safety of the vessel, for they 
well knew the danger; but this was not all. 
They alone realized that they were not depend- 
ent on human help for safety. 

When hope left the sailors, Paul gathered 
them about him. He reminded them of his 
advice to them in Fair Havens, and gave them 
a- message direct from God who had said to 
him, "Fear not, Paul: thou must stand before 
Cassar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them 
that sail with thee." 

For a time courage revived; but the gale 
continued night and day for fourteen days. 

1 59 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

On the fourteenth night a new sound was 
heard. Terror greater than ever reigned. A 
quick command to "heave the lead" was given. 
"Twenty fathoms," was the report. 

All waited breathless till a second command 
was given. "Fifteen fathoms," was the result. 
The boat was being driven ashore. It could but 
be dashed in pieces. 

All was now terror and confusion* Orders 
were immediately given to clear the anchors. 
If anchored from the bow, as was the custom, 
the wind would swing the boat round, and the 
rock might be close at hand; so four anchors 
were dropped from the stern, and the head- 
long course was checked for a time; but at any 
moment the boat might part from the anchors 
and go ashore. 

Could she hold together till daylight? The 
sailors thought not, and, under the pretense of 
looking after the anchors, they lowered the 
boat, intending to take to it. 

Paul saw their plan. He knew there would 
not be enough left on board to manage the 
ship, and that probably all would be lost. 
Quietly he spoke to the centurion : with the 
short sword which he wore, he quickly cut the 
ropes and the boat drifted off into darkness. 

Day dawns; Paul now seems to have taken 
at least partial command. The danger is great; 

160 



The Shipwreck 

hard work is before them, and he urges every 
one' to eat, that he may be better prepared to 
endure hardness. 

As daylight advanced, there seemed a pos- 
sibility of running the boat into an inlet. If 
they were to succeed in this, the boat must be 
made as light as possible, and soon all hands 
were at work throwing the grain overboard. 

Simultaneously the rudders were loosed, the 
foresail hoisted, and the anchors cut away. The 
waves, however, were too strong to make the 
use of the rudders very effective, and instead 
of gaining the inlet, the bow of the boat was 
driven upon the rocks and remained fast, while 
the stern began to go to pieces ; but even in this 
moment of danger the soldiers, whose lives 
were answerable for the lives of their prisoners, 
feared lest they might escape, and proposed to 
kill them. 

The centurion, however, because of his in- 
terest in Paul, interfered, and thus again Paul 
was the means of saving life. 

Those who could swim now cast themselves 
into the sea; others made themselves fast to 
planks, and all came in safety through the 
breakers to land. 

They learned that they were on the island of 
Melita, inhabited by a people who were called 
barbarians. 

io 161 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

The shipwrecked people, numbering two 
hundred seventy six, were kindly cared for, and 
they remained here until early spring. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 14 will be completed, continuing the 
voyage from the island of Cauda to the island 
of Melita. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. Where do we find the reason for the 
soldiers wishing to kill Paul? 

2. When was Paul again at Crete? 

3. Find how many times God or His angel 
stood beside Paul to encourage him. 

4. What indication is there that food was 
scarce? 

5. At what other time was Paul taken for 
one of the gods? 

HEART TALK. 

Paul, a prisoner, won first the kindly in- 
terest, and then the respect, of his Roman 
guard. Next he showed himself a man to whom 
the sailors and captain of the vessel could look 
up. His advice invariably proved wise. 

Wherein lay his power? He was strong in 
the Lord. Every one admires strength, and 
the strength that comes from God calls forth 
respect as well as admiration. 
162 



The Shipwreck 

This strength is for you, if you will use it. 
Try it. See what it means to "be strong in 
the Lord." 

PRAYER. 

"/ will give thanks unto Thy name, O 
Jehovah, for it is good. For He hath deliv- 
ered me out of all trouble" Psa. 54: 6, 7. 



163 



CHAPTER XXII. 
ROME. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"In all these things we are more than con- 
querors through Him that loved us." Rom. 
8:37. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. Paul's work in Melita. Acts 28: 1-10. 

2. On to Rome. Acts 28 : 1 1-15. 

3. Paul at home in Rome. Acts 28 : 16. 

4. Paul's interview with the Jews. Acts 
28 : 17-22. 

5. A great meeting. Acts 28:23, 24. 

6. Paul's final words to the disbelievers at 
home. Acts 28 : 25-38. 

7. Paul's residence in Rome. Acts 28 : 

3Q> 31- 
STORY. 

The half-frozen, weary people gladly wel- 
comed the fires which the people of Melita 
kindled on the shores; but with so many people 
to warm, it would require many fires, and Paul 
with others helped. As he came with a bundle 

164 



Rome 

of sticks, an adder sprang from it. and fastened 
upon his hand. The superstitious barbarians 
at once thought they were harboring a criminal, 
and that the shipwreck was a sign that the gods 
were angry with Paul. 

Paul, however, simply shook the adder into 
the fire, and, though they watched anxiously to 
see him die, he was not hurt. With wonderful 
rapidity the feeling of the people changed, and 
they would now have worshiped him as a god 
had he not restrained them. 

It was necessary to remain at Melita until 
spring, and one can readily imagine that Paul 
would not be idle. He not only preached Jesus 
the Christ to these ignorant people, but per- 
formed many miracles of healing, and thus won 
the hearts of all. 

After a stay of three months traveling was 
again safe, and as they set sail in another Alex- 
andrian vessel named the "Twin Brothers," the 
people of the island supplied them with every- 
thing that was needful for their journey. 

Landing at Syracuse, they tarried three 
days, and tradition says Paul founded a Church 
there. Thence they sailed to Rhegium, and 
two days later came to Puteoli, the" port of 
Rome. Here Paul found friends, and at their 
invitation, Julius consented to his spending 
seven days with them. 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

Again they take up their journey; but the 
news of their arrival at Puteoli has preceded 
them, and friends from Rome have started out 
to meet them. 

Great was the surprise and joy of Paul, 
when they reached the market of Appius, to see, 
among the crowd, friends with whom he had 
worked in the East. 

About ten miles further, at a place called 
Three Taverns, he was met by a second wel- 
coming party, among whom he probably found 
his old friends, Aquila and Priscilla. The sym- 
pathy and love of these friends brought re- 
newed strength and courage to the wearied 
apostle. Luke says, "When Paul saw the breth- 
ren, he thanked God and took courage." 

At last, after so many years of expectant 
desire to be there, Paul was in Rome. A pris- 
oner? Yes, but not forced to inactivity as at 
Caesarea. He, while still chained to his guard, 
was allowed to live in his own house, which was 
large enough to accommodate the audiences 
who came to hear him, and was allowed free 
intercourse with his friends. 

He soon learned that the Roman Jews had 
already become prejudiced against him. After 
three days he called the leaders together, to ex- 
plain to them that he had not been disloyal to 

1 66 



Rome 

the Jewish rulers in making his appeal to Caesar, 
but rather that the Jews forced him to it. His 
defense in a measure satisfied them; but they 
wished to know more of his doctrines and teach- 
ings, and arrangements were made for a great 
meeting where they might hear him further. 

They came in crowds to this service. He 
preached Jesus Christ as he always did; many 
and long were the discussions that followed, but 
the final outcome was separation between him 
and his Gentile followers, and the Jewish Chris- 
tians. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. When did Paul first plan to go to Rome? 

2. How did the Christians in Rome know 
anything about Paul? 

3. Why were the Roman Jews prejudiced 
against Paul? 

4. From what books does Paul quote in his 
address to the gathering of both Jews and 
Christians? 

5. How do we know that Paul, though a 
prisoner, had great freedom in Rome? 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Complete Plan 14, from Merita, past Rhe- 
gium to Puteoli, and on to Rome. 

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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 
HEART TALK. 

What a tower of strength it must be to a 
person to be able to say as did Paul, "I had 
done nothing" that I should be made a pris- 
oner. 

When trouble of any kind comes, our 
strength lies in the consciousness that we 'have 
done no wrong, but such a consciousness comes 
only by each day living so close to God that our 
lives shall always be for the right; that in all 
things we shall be conquerors through Christ. 

PRAYER. 

"Unto Thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my 
soul. O my God, in Thee have I trusted: let 
me not be put to shame, let not mine enemies 
triumph over me" Psa. 25 : 1, 2. 



168 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
LETTERS FROM ROME. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are 
true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatso- 
ever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, 
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever 
things are of good report; if there be any virtue 
and if there be any praise, think on these 
things." Phil. 4:8. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

1. A converted slave. Philemon. 

2. The bearer of the letter. Col. 1 : 3-8. 

3. A message to the Colossians. Col. 2: 
1-8 ; 16-19. 

4. An exhortation to the Ephesians. Eph. 
5:1, 2; 6: 10-20. 

5. Epaphroditus. Phil. 2:25-30. 

6. A letter to the' Philippians. Phil. 1 ; 
1-1 1. 

7. Paul's "Thank you." Phil. 4: 10-20. 

STORY. 

It was probably at least two or three years 
after Paul's arrival in Rome before he was 
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Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

brought to trial, and possibly much longer, 
though there are indications that this trial oc- 
curred in A. D. 63. 

Among those whom he gathered about him 
during this time we find Luke, who came with 
him; Timothy, whom he calls his beloved son; 
Aristarchus, a fellow prisoner; Demas, Mark, 
and others. 

Among the Roman converts was a runaway 
slave, Onesimus. His master, Philemon, was a 
member of the Church in Colossae, but had been 
in Ephesus while Paul was there. Onesimus 
was not only a runaway, but a thief as well. 
How he was led into Paul's meetings is 
not known, but having become a follower of 
Christ, he could not rest till he had confessed 
his sin. He went to Paul, and told him how he 
had wronged his master. There was something 
in the man which made Paul feel that he would 
be an efficient worker for Christ, and he wished 
to keep him in Rome, but he must first make 
things right with his master, Philemon. 

Tychicus was about to start for Colossae on 
other business for Paul, and he decides to send 
Onesimus with him; he himself probably sup- 
plies the money with which to repay what the 
slave had stolen, and he sends with him a letter 
to Philemon, in which he intimates his wish" that 

170 



Letter from Rome 

Oneslmus may become a fellow-worker with him 
for Christ. , 

Tychicus carried with him another letter 
also, which is known as the letter to the Colos- 
sians. The first real heresy was creeping into 
the Church at Colossae, and Paul writes to warn 
them against the danger. 

One going from Rome to Asia Minor would 
be well laden with messages. Tychicus would 
probably visit a number of the Churches which 
Paul had founded. These Churches were in 
the same danger as the Church at Colossae, and 
Paul decided to send by Tychicus a third letter 
which he might read in the Churches which he 
visited. This letter is called the Letter to the 
Ephesians, though it was not written to the 
Church at Ephesus alone. It repeats the doc- 
trine which Paul had taught, and closes with an 
exhortation to the Christians to be faithful to 
Christ and His teachings. 

Paul was still a prisoner, chained night and 
day to his Roman guard; about a year had 
passed since his arrival at Rome, when Tychicus 
was sent on his mission to carry Paul's letters to 
the Churches. Soon afterward the prison home 
of Paul was cheered by the arrival of Epaph- 
roditus, one of the leading members of the 
Church at Philippi. 

I/I 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

This Church was one of the bright spots in 
Paul's life, and one in which he rejoiced, not 
alone , because of the continued thought and 
kindness of its members for him, but also on 
account of their great faith and obedience. 

Epaphroditus, who was very ill on his ar- 
rival in Rome, remained till he was fully recov- 
ered, which probably was several months. Dur- 
ing this time the Church of Rome was greatly 
enlarged, and Paul's influence extended. This, 
of course, attracted more attention to him, and 
there was a growing feeling of uncertainty 
among his followers as to his release. 

When Epaphroditus recovered, he gladly 
became Paul's messenger to the Church at Phil- 
ippi, carrying with him the letter to the Philip- 
pians, which has been called Paul's love-letter. 
It is full of commendation, sympathy, and the 
warmest feeling. There is no doctrinal treatise 
in this epistle. It is a real letter, in which he 
tells his friends of his own life, and the Church 
in Rome, and expresses his loving interest in 
them and their constancy and loyalty to Christ. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

It will be interesting to turn to Plan 12 and 
locate the Churches to whom these epistles are 
sent, and find how many times Paul had visited 
each. 

172 



Letter from Rome 

SEARCH QUESTIONS, 
i. How is it known that Tychicus carried 
the letter to the Ephesians? 

2. In how many of these epistles does Paul 
wish that he might send Timothy to them? 

3. 'How is it known that Timothy was with 
Paul at this time ? 

4. How does Paul speak of the slave Ones- 
imus in his letter to the Colossians? 

5. Who were with Paul when he wrote to 
Philemon ? 

s, 

HEART TALK. 

In our memory verse to-day we have one. 
of the strongest fortifications against wrong 
doing. If our thoughts are centered on the 
good, the beautiful, and the pure, we need not 
be afraid of our actions. 

Let us remember three things. First, while 
we can not prevent wrong thoughts coming into 
our minds, we can prevent their staying there. 
Second, we are responsible for the kind of 
thoughts we have. Third, the surest way to 
get rid of temptation is to think as Paul says 
of the things he has enumerated in his message 
to the Philippians. 

PRAYER. 

"Make me to understand the way of Thy 
precepts: so shall I meditate on Thy wondrous 
works" Psa. 119 : 27. 

173 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
PAUL'S LAST YEARS. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"/ know Him whom I have believed, and 
I am persuaded that He is able to guard that 
which I have committed unto Him against that 
day." 2 Tim. 1:12. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

r 

i. Scripture lights on Paul's last years. 
Rom. 15:24-28; 1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 4:20; 
Titus 3:12. 

2. First letter to Timothy. 1 Tim. 4: 6-16. 

3. Letter to Titus. Titus 3:1-11. 
4.: Paul joined by Titus. Titus 3:12. 

5. Deserted by friends. 2 Tim. 1:15; 
4: 10. 

6. The faithfulness of Onesiphorus and 
Luke. 2 Tim. 1 : 16; 2 Tim. 4:11. 

7. Second letter to Timothy. 2 Tim. 1 : 
1-14. 

174 



Paul's Last Years 

STORY. 

The history of Paul is ended. For the rest, 
one must depend on tradition and on inferences 
drawn from the epistles and the early writers. 

Luke says that he remained a prisoner in 
Rome for two years, or until A. D. 63. There 
is strong evidence that he was beheaded in 
Rome, A. D. 68. 

The supposition is that, after his trial in 
A. D. 63, he was released and went at once 
to Macedonia, where he had felt that the 
Churches greatly needed him. Having visited 
the Churches in Macedonia, tradition says he 
went to Spain, where he spent two years; but 
of this there is no direct evidence. 

Again traveling eastward, he came to 
Ephesus. Having spent some time here, he 
established Timothy in charge of the Church, 
expecting to return shortly. Going on into 
Macedonia, he found he would be detained, 
and, realizing that so young a man as Timothy 
might meet with difficulties in managing so 
large a Church, he wrote his first letter to Tim- 
othy, in which he laid down rules for the gov- 
erning of the Church. He also gave him per- 
sonal advice, besides denouncing the false teach- 
ing that had crept into, the Church. 

From Macedonia, Paul went into Crete. 
Here he established Titus in a position similar 

175 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

to that held by Timothy at Ephesus. A letter 
of instruction, somewhat similar to the one sent 
to Timothy, was sent to Titus, apparently just 
as Paul was leaving Ephesus, to which place he 
had returned, for Rome. 

Reaching Necropolis, he was obliged to 
spend the winter, and, from the letter to Titus, 
it appears that he planned that Titus should 
join him here. 

In the late winter or early spring we find 
Paul again a prisoner in Rome; but this time 
there is no hired house of his own. As a crim- 
inal, he is chained to his guard and thrown into 
the common prison or dungeon. 

That his imprisonment was not of long 
duration seems probable. Many of his friends 
seem to have left him, and, indeed, conditions 
were such that they could not visit him without 
danger of like imprisonment. Luke, however, 
was faithful, and was a great comfort. 

Timothy was still in Asia Minor, and how 
greatly Paul missed him and longed for him 
may be seen from his second letter to him. 
Paul begged him to come with all speed to 
Rome; but feeling the great uncertainty of his 
reaching him in time, he writes to him his last 
message, impressing upon him the duties of his 
office, and urging him to all boldness in the 
176 



Paul's Last Years 

cause of Christ and steadfastness under perse- 
cution. 

This letter, written under such circum- 
stances, is full of pathetic tenderness and great 
solemnity, and one can read all through it the 
great longing of the apostle for his beloved 
Timothy. 

There are some reasons for believing that 
Paul's great desire was granted, and that Tim- 
othy reached him shortly before his execution; 
but of this there is no proof. 

Without -the walls of Rome, during the 
summer of A. D. 68, tradition affirms that Paul, 
the apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, was 
beheaded. 

The Epistle to the Hebrews is thought by 
many people to have been written by Paul, but 
its authorship is uncertain. Of this much we 
are sure: It was written by a Jew to Jewish 
Christians to prove the superiority of Chris- 
tianity over Judaism, or to prove that Chris- 
tianity is the true religion. It was probably 
written A. D. 68 or 69. 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 15. The possible journey of Paul 
after his release from prison in Rome. 

Plan 15 gives the possible journeys of Paul 

177 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 




i 7 8 



Paul's Last Years 

after his release from prison. Let the boys and 
girls fully understand that this is only a prob- 
able route. 

The trip to Spain is not indicated as there 
is such great divergence of opinion in regard 
to it. 

Note how many of the Churches that Paul 
had visited on his missionary journeys he now 
revisits. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

i. In how many countries did Paul labor? 

2. To what Churches did he write epistles? 

3. To what people did he write letters? 

4. Who were his most constant com- 
panions? 

5. To whom did he always preach first on 
entering a city? 

HEART TALK. 

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished 
my course," was Paul's summing up of his life. 
A good fight meant fighting in a good cause, 
with a good equipment, and by persistently 
every day doing his best. He had not com- 
pleted all the work God wanted done in this 
world, but he had finished the work God gave 
him to do. Let us so live that we may say 
with Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have 

179 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

finished the work God gave me to do." To do 
this we must do each day's work as it comes, 
so that each night we may be able to say, "I 
have finished my work; I have done what God 
would have me do to-day." 

PRAYER. 

"Father, into Thy hands I commend my 
spirit." Luke 23 : 46. 



180 



CHAPTER XXV. 

THE APOSTLE JOHN IN THE EARLY 
CHURCH. 

MEMORY VERSE. 

"That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved 
saith unto Peter, It is the Lord." John 21:7. 

BIBLE PICTURE. 

i. Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate. 
Acts 3 : 1-13. 

2. Peter and John sent to the Samaritans. 
Acts 8 : 14-24. 

3. In the great council. Acts 15: i-n. 

4. A leader in the Church. Gal. 2: 7-10. 

5. A message from John. 1 John, chap- 
ter 4. 

6. A revelation through John. Rev., chap. 
21. 

7. The closing words of the Bible. Rev. 
22 : 16-21. 

STORY. 

Among those whose life and work helped 
in the formation of the early Church is one 
who, in a way, stands by himself. 

181 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

The apostle John, brother of James, son of 
Zebedee, one of the first four of the apostles 
chosen to be with Christ, is a man about whom 
the Bible does not say very much, but through 
whom we come more closely in touch with the 
Spirit of Christ than through any other per- 
son. One of the chosen three in the inner circle 
of Christ's friends, we find him coming still 
closer to the Master as the "disciple whom 
Jesus loved." 

Are not those words a whole biography? 
Some one has said that "Peter was the head 
for the Twelve, but John was the heart." Do 
not let this mislead us in regard to his charac- 
ter. This apostle of love was also called by 
Jesus the Son of Thunder. 

A quiet, contemplative man he may have 
been, but he was a man of great force of char- 
acter and of such keen and sympathetic intu- 
ition that he understood Christ as no other dis- 
ciple did. The only recorded words which he 
spoke spontaneously are, "It is the Lord." 

After the resurrection we find Peter and 
John close companions, but in every case it is 
Peter who does the talking and apparently takes 
the lead. 

To John, Christ, as He hung on the cross, 
gave His mother, and in the home of John she 
found her home from that time. 
182 



The Apostle John in the Early Church 

From Paul's letter to the Galatians, it is 
inferred that John was still in Jerusalem, a 
leader in the Church, at the time of the great 
council. Beyond this time, with John as with 
the other apostles, we have only tradition. 

He is supposed to have spent the most of 
his life in Asia Minor after leaving Jerusalem; 
but even tradition is meager for some years till 
he appears as Bishop of Ephesus, which was 
probably after Paul's letter to the Ephesians 
was written. 

In the Gospel written by John we find the 
message, not for the Jews, nor for the Gentiles, 
but for those who already know and love 
Christ; a message that brings one very close to 
the heart of the Master and emphasizes the 
spiritual relationship with Him. In this Gospel 
he exalts Christ. In his epistles he exalts the 
Christian life, and in the* Book of Revelation, 
the Church. 

It is through these writings that John is 
known, rather than through the history found 
in the Book of Acts. The Book of Revelation, 
though the last book in the Bible, was not the 
last one written. In the ninth verse of the first 
chapter, John says that he was on the island of 
Patmos, where it is supposed that he was exiled 
for a time at least. 

In the messages to the seven Churches in 

183 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

this book, John summarizes all the teachings of 
all the other books of the Bible, and closes the 
book with the vision of the Heavenly City, the 
New Jerusalem. 

Of the writing of the Second and Third 
Epistles of John, little is known. The First 
Epistle of John was probably the last of all the 
New Testament books to be written, and comes 
as the last message from the apostle of love, 
who, as no other apostle, realizes the great fact 
that God is not alone the Lawgiver and the 
Judge, but that "God is love." 

CRAYON AND PENCIL. 

Plan 17. The Seven Churches and the Isle 
of Patmos. 

In giving the field of John's activity we will 
turn to Plans 1 and 4; on Plan 11 we will 
find him at Ephesus. 

Plan 16 may be made by turning to Plan 1 
and filling in the places where, at the time of 
the death of John, the Christian Church had 
been established. 

SEARCH QUESTIONS. 

1. What was the occupation of John? 

2. How do we know that he was the dis- 
ciple whom Jesus loved. 

3. Write from memory John 3: 16. 

184 



The Apostle John in the Early Church 




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85 



Short Studies of Heroes of the Early Church 

4. How many times is the word love used 
in 1 John, chapters 3 and 4? 

5. What is the last verse in the Bible? 

HEART TALK. 

"The apostle of love" — what a beautiful 
name! But what does it mean? Is it not that 
John learned to love in the way that Jesus 
loved, and for that reason he learned to under- 
stand Jesus and His teachings? 

John was not the spokesman; did not get 
the credit for doing things as Peter did, but that 
made no difference. He loved Jesus with a 
love that made him true, loyal, and strong in 
His service; and to-day, after all these years, 
we feel that in being called u the apostle whom 
Jesus loved," he received the greatest honor 
that could be given to any man. 

May we not each one of us love Jesus in 
the way that John did and come very, very 
close to Him? 

PRAYER. 

"Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou 
hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that 
they may behold My glory, which Thou hast 
given Me: for Thou loves t Me before the foun- 
dation of the world. . . . And I made known 
unto them Thy name, and will make it known: 
that the love wherewith Thou lovest Me may 
be in them, and I in them. ,} John 17: 24, 26. 

186 



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